New York: SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed strong support for the H-1B visa programme, saying the United States has been an “immense beneficiary” of talent from India. He cautioned that shutting down the programme would be “very bad” for the country.

Musk made the remarks during an interview on investor Nikhil Kamath's podcast 'People by WTF', released on Sunday. “Yes, I think America has benefited immensely from talented Indians who have come to America,” he said, noting that while some outsourcing companies have misused the H-1B system, the solution is to stop the gaming rather than terminate the programme entirely.

His comments come amid a US crackdown on H-1B visa abuse. Indian professionals, including tech workers and physicians, form a significant proportion of visa holders. In September, former President Donald Trump announced reforms, including a one-time USD 100,000 fee on new H-1B visas.

Musk also touched upon broader immigration concerns, noting that under the Biden administration there was “massive” illegal immigration and insufficient border control, creating incentives for unlawful entry. He emphasised the need for skilled talent, stating, “We have a lot of difficulty finding enough talented people to get these difficult tasks done, and so more talented people would be good.”

On his companies, Musk said hiring is focused on global talent, with salaries “well above average,” rather than cost-saving. Addressing young Indian entrepreneurs, he encouraged them to be value creators and contribute meaningfully to society, noting that financial success would follow naturally from providing useful products and services.