US political commentator and pollster Mark Mitchell recently sparked controversy by claiming that senior H-1B developers at tech companies like Apple are “economically equivalent to 10 undocumented workers.” He argued that American workers are being replaced by cheaper foreign labor, particularly Indian tech professionals on H-1B visas.
Mitchell, CEO of Rasmussen Reports, stated that Silicon Valley’s workforce is largely made up of foreign-born employees—about two-thirds overall—with some buildings employing 85–95% Indian nationals. He criticized the tech industry for relying on immigrant labor to cut costs, rather than hiring American workers.
Appearing on a show hosted by Steve Bannon, Mitchell attacked the H-1B program and criticized the Trump administration for not taking steps to deport visa holders. He claimed that sending back a senior developer would have the same economic impact as removing 10 undocumented immigrant workers, comparing a $90,000 annual salary to multiple minimum-wage jobs.
Mitchell also expressed concern about “third-world engineers” replacing American professionals, suggesting that younger foreign workers are more cost-effective than experienced Americans, who need raises and have higher healthcare costs.
According to recent data, around 66% of tech jobs in Silicon Valley are held by foreign-born professionals, with Indian nationals making up 23% and Chinese nationals about 18%.
