Impact of Returning Indian Techies on US Immigration Dynamics

Political analyst and leading U.S. pollster Mark Mitchell has made controversial remarks about Indian tech workers and the H-1B visa program. During an appearance on a political talk show hosted by Steve Bannon, Mitchell argued that sending back one senior H-1B developer working at major tech firms like Apple is economically comparable to deporting ten undocumented workers. He emphasized that many of these developers earn around $90,000 a year, equating their presence to employing multiple low-wage workers.

Mitchell, who heads Rasmussen Reports, claimed Silicon Valley’s tech industry heavily depends on foreign-born professionals, especially Indian nationals. He stated that around two-thirds of the workforce in Silicon Valley are immigrants, and in some buildings, up to 95% are Indian citizens. He criticized tech firms for using these H-1B workers to replace older American professionals with cheaper alternatives from what he termed “third-world” countries.

He also accused companies of forcing outgoing American employees to train their replacements, calling it a form of exploitation disguised as innovation. Mitchell highlighted growing concerns about age discrimination in the tech industry, stating that experienced American workers often lose their jobs to younger, low-cost visa holders because of higher insurance and salary costs.

His comments come in light of new data showing that foreign-born workers constitute about 66% of Silicon Valley’s tech workforce, with a significant portion coming from India and China. The discussion has reignited debates around immigration, outsourcing, and workforce diversity in the U.S. technology sector.

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