James Fishback, CEO of Arizona investment firm and former official in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has spoken out against what he calls the “H-1B visa scam.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), dated 26 October, Fishback criticized companies for prioritizing foreign workers, particularly from India, over qualified American citizens.
He claims that businesses often claim they cannot find Americans to fill these roles, but in reality, they never truly search for local talent. According to Fishback, companies strategically hide job listings and skip interviewing American applicants so they can justify hiring foreign workers under the H-1B visa program. This, he says, denies Americans access to fair employment and decent wages.
Fishback also argues that this practice doesn’t benefit foreign workers either, saying they too are exploited in the process. However, he expressed little sympathy for them, accusing them of enabling a system that disadvantages American workers.
Regarding legal immigration, Fishback expressed strong opposition, calling for a total immigration moratorium. He believes America already has enough talent and hardworking individuals eager to contribute, and that the nation should prioritize its own citizens over importing foreign labor.
“America is full of untapped potential—millions of citizens who are overlooked and underemployed,” he said. “We don’t need to import talent; we need to value the talent we already have.”