James Fishback, a former adviser at DOGE and one-time aide to Elon Musk, is stirring debate in Washington with his candid call to rethink how America handles its H-1B visa program. In a recent statement, Fishback urged U.S. policymakers to reassess the visa’s role in the nation’s workforce strategy.
His comments add a fresh spark to the long-running political fight over high-skilled immigration.
Fishback who now serves as the CEO of Azoria took a stronger stance, saying the United States should end its dependence on foreign hiring altogether. He argued that the growing concern among American students is that major tech companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple are turning to talent from India and China instead of creating opportunities for homegrown graduates. According to him, this trend is fueling anxiety and resentment among young professionals who feel sidelined in their own job market.
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In his interview with Fox News, Fishback doubled down on his criticism of the current hiring system, saying the U.S. has no shortage of skilled workers, just a shortage of companies willing to hire them. He claimed that instead of recruiting locally, many corporations deliberately bypass American talent by concealing job postings in little-known publications, making them harder for qualified citizens to find.
Fishback went on to say that while the idea of legal immigration contributing to America’s growth may sound appealing, the country no longer needs it. He argued that the U.S. should prioritize its existing workforce and focus on empowering American talent rather than depending on immigrants to drive innovation or fill key roles.
“I support a complete immigration moratorium. Because what makes America special isn’t who we import—it’s who we already have. This nation is overflowing with talent, grit, and brilliance. Millions of Americans are underemployed, underpaid, or overlooked. They are eager to work hard and contribute,” Fishback said.
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“To those abroad who love freedom and dream of coming here: I don’t blame you. You want what we have. But your countries need you. Too many great minds have left their homelands, hollowing them out in the process. Stay there. Build something worthy there. Make your nation strong, as we make ours great again. We thank you for your admiration—but this next chapter of the American story will be written by Americans,” he said.
“Here’s the ugly truth: they’re not even looking for Americans. They refuse to interview them. They hide job postings in obscure newspapers to ‘check the box,’ and when no one ‘applies,’ they import another foreign worker—denying yet another qualified American a job, a wage, and the dignity and purpose that come with both. It’s disgraceful. It’s time to finally and fully dismantle the H-1B scam,” Fishback added in a post on X.