President Donald Trump said Sunday on social media that the United States would allow foreign companies to temporarily bring in “people of expertise” to train American workers, after which they would return home.
Why It Matters
Trump supports strict immigration measures and pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Thousands of immigrants residing in the country illegally and legally, including with valid documentation like green cards and visas, have been detained.
The president’s push for more foreign investment comes just after immigration officials recently launched its largest raid on a manufacturing plant in Georgia.
The H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers with specialized knowledge or expertise, has become a flashpoint in Republican debates over immigration. Supporters say the program brings needed skills and fuels economic growth, while critics argue expanded use can undercut opportunities for U.S. workers, especially amid domestic layoffs.
Major tech firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and Meta, are among the top sponsors of H-1B employees. Engineering, finance and other industries also rely on the visa.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
What To Know
In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump wrote that he wants foreign companies “to bring their people of expertise for a period of time to teach and train our people how to make these very unique and complex products, as they phase out of our Country, and back into their land.” He did not specify the time frame or which visa would apply.
His post continued: “If we didn’t do this, all of that massive Investment will never come in the first place—Chips, Semiconductors, Computers, Ships, Trains, and so many other products that we have to learn from others how to make, or, in many cases, relearn, because we used to be great at it, but not anymore.”
Trump has pledged to revitalize American manufacturing, from car factories to semiconductors, which has been a hot political topic for years given national security concerns.
He continued: “I don’t want to frighten off or disincentivize Investment into America by outside Countries or Companies,” however, some economists and politicians, like Andrew Yang, have noted that Trump’s changing tariffs policies have sparked “disinvesting.”
Trump’s comments come after a massive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in Georgia of more than 300 South Korean nationals working at a Hyundai factory, which is likely to chill foreign investments. The workers were flown back to South Korea last week.
“We welcome them, we welcome their employees, and we are willing to proudly say we will learn from them, and do even better than them at their own “game,” sometime into the not too distant future!” the president’s Truth Social post concluded.
What People Are Saying
Trump said in a September 7 post after the Hyundai raid: “Following the Immigration Enforcement Operation on the Hyundai Battery Plant in Georgia, I am hereby calling on all Foreign Companies investing in the United States to please respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws. Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so. What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers.”
Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, previously told Newsweek: “Allies are receiving mixed signals. The South Korea case has made countries like Japan and even EU [European Union] nations nervous.”
Sean King, a senior vice president at Park Strategies, previously told Newsweek: “This Georgia incident will give foreign companies fits and cause for real concern as their governments try to meet President Trump’s demands for overseas investment in the United States.”
What Happens Next?
Details on the program’s length and application process are expected soon.
