Conservative activist Christopher Rufo and online commentator Lomez reignited the debate over H-1B visa program during a widely circulated discussion that focused on wages, immigration policy, and the future of American technology jobs amid ongoing layoffs across the software sector.
The conversation, hosted alongside political commentator Richard Hanania and shared by Blaze Media, centered on whether companies use the H-1B program to fill elite talent shortages or to obtain lower-cost labor for mid-level technical positions.
“You know the average H-1B salary is just a hair under 120K,” Rufo said during the discussion. “These are low, low to mid-tier tech jobs. These could easily be filled by native workers.”
Rufo challenged arguments commonly made by immigration advocates and free-market think tanks that H-1B workers primarily represent elite, difficult-to-replace talent.
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“If we put a cap of like 250K on it, then clearly we’re talking about real top percentile talent,” he said. “People at the Cato Institute frame H-1Bs as top 0.1 percent talent. That’s a total lie.” He also criticized outsourcing firms frequently associated with large-scale H-1B hiring.
“Places like Infosys, Cognizant, these are basically running mills,” Rufo said. “They’re doing low to mid-tier tech mill stuff with H-1Bs.”
The comments come during a period of heightened anxiety in the American technology sector, where companies have announced thousands of layoffs while simultaneously increasing investment in artificial intelligence and global hiring operations.
Critics of the H-1B system argue that some firms use the program to suppress wages or create a more dependent labor force, particularly in software engineering and IT support roles. Supporters counter that the visa system remains critical for attracting international talent and maintaining U.S. competitiveness in science and technology.
The debate also expanded into broader immigration politics during the discussion, when participants referenced labor shortages following immigration crackdowns in California.“It was hard to find gardeners for a few days,” one speaker said while discussing enforcement actions.
Rufo responded by mocking the argument. “It is absurd to make the statement that for a few days you had a hard time finding a gardener because of the crackdown on immigration,” he said. “It is absurd to organize a democratic polity around your need for a gardener.”
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The exchange quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing reactions from both anti-immigration and pro-immigration advocates. Supporters praised Rufo for challenging what they view as corporate abuse of employment visa programs, while critics accused him of oversimplifying labor shortages and dismissing the economic role immigrants play across industries.
Federal data shows that many H-1B workers are employed in software development, engineering, finance, healthcare, and data-related occupations, with major technology firms and outsourcing companies among the largest visa sponsors annually.
The renewed debate comes as lawmakers from both political parties increasingly scrutinize high-skilled immigration policies amid broader concerns over automation, AI disruption, and the future of white-collar employment in the United States.