(2/2)

Which brings us to the fundamental hypocrisy of both sides. It’s not that American jobs are being lost, but the kind of American jobs that are being lost, which is the real problem. H1Bs don’t just take jobs; they take THE jobs: software engineers, doctors, and, increasingly, CEO positions. MAGA’s blue-collar base, who believe that these jobs are theirs by birthright, find this deeply disturbing. On the other hand, numerous studies have demonstrated that undocumented immigrants often take jobs that American citizens are unwilling to perform, such as custodial work, farm labor, and positions in fast food. This means undocumented immigrants do take jobs, of course, but not the jobs the American keyboard warriors who drive the MAGA-Bernie engine really want.

Add to this the fact that H1Bs are mostly Indians, which means that they are not just racially different from the core MAGA base but also of a hugely different religion. This drives the filthy racially charged invective that Indians have been subject to online over the past few weeks, as the schism within the MAGA movement between “MAGA classic” (the core of Trump’s base who believe they can save America) and “MAGA premium” (the Elon-Vivek super-duper-rich who believe they can save America) has come to the fore.

Now, with the Bernie Bros, it’s slightly different. Yes, just like the MAGA base, their core resentment is powered by the kind of work Indian H1Bs do. But they hide it better than the MAGA, disguising their disdain in anti-corporate rhetoric of “ billionaires should not exist”, something no less nonsensical than allegations of cat and dog consumption.

So, who’s worse: MAGA or progressives? That depends on how you like your xenophobia served. MAGA is upfront, with chants and red hats and the most hateful social media memes. Progressives prefer the subtle route of anti-capitalism and the intellectually appealing theory of oppressor-oppressed (“jitni abaaadi utna haq” as we know it) while writing the longest New York Times op-eds.

Here's the truth: America needs immigrants. Those that oppose immigration today were immigrants a few generations ago. Immigrants are not stealing jobs—they're helping to sustain the economy. While the H1B program does have loopholes that are exploited by dishonest agencies, addressing these issues does not necessitate abolishing the program. Although illegal immigration must be controlled, this does not mean that US shouldn't significantly expand their guest worker program.

However, the real issue at the heart of the immigration debate has never been about economics or what is best for the country. It revolves around identity, power, and an unwillingness to adapt to a changing world.