United States President Donald Trump has expressed a nuanced stance on the contentious H-1B visa programme, acknowledging both its benefits and criticisms.

Speaking at a joint press conference at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said he supports bringing "very competent people" to the US, even if it involves them training and aiding less-qualified individuals.

“I like both sides of the argument, but I also like very competent people coming into our country, even if that involves them training and helping other people that may not have the qualifications they do,” he stated.

Trump was joined by Oracle CTO Larry Ellison, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during the briefing.

The H-1B visa programme, which allows temporary employment for highly skilled foreign workers, has been a topic of significant debate. While business leaders like Tesla CEO Elon Musk have supported the programme for its role in attracting global talent, others argue that it threatens job security for American workers.

The president, addressing these concerns, remarked, “We want competent people coming into our country. And H-1B, I know the programme very well. I use the programme. Whether it’s wine experts, even waiters — high-quality waiters — you’ve got to get the best people.”

Trump further emphasized that legal immigration supports business expansion and economic growth. “By doing that, we’re expanding businesses, and that takes care of everybody,” he added.

H-1B and its Indian nexus

The H-1B visa is particularly significant for Indian professionals, who constitute 72% of its holders. The visa permits an initial stay of three years, extendable by another three. However, applicants seeking extensions are often discouraged from travelling outside the US during the process.

With Indian nationals heavily reliant on this programme, Trump's remarks are likely to resonate deeply in South Asia. Indians also form the third-largest group of undocumented immigrants in the US, following Mexicans and Salvadorans, according to a 2024 Pew Research report.

Immigration policies under scrutiny

Trump’s comments come against the backdrop of sweeping immigration policies he initiated upon his return to the White House earlier this week. Hours after being sworn in, the President signed a series of executive orders, including the declaration of a national emergency at the southern border with Mexico and the designation of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations.

Trump reiterated his preference for legal immigration, stating, “I’m fine with legal immigration. I like it. We need people, and I’m absolutely fine with it. We want to have it. But we have to have legal immigration.”

In 2024, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported over 270,000 immigrants, the highest level since 2014. Among those deported, 1,529 were Indian nationals.

The first signs of a stricter immigration stance have already surfaced. An app introduced under former President Joe Biden to streamline asylum-seeker applications went offline shortly after Trump assumed office, raising questions about the future of immigration reforms.