American entrepreneur James Fishback, the CEO of Azoria and former DOGE initiative architect, has stirred controversy with his sharp criticism of the H-1B visa program. The 30-year-old investor accused U.S. companies of misusing the visa system to bring in foreign employees, mainly from India and China, while ignoring capable American graduates.
Fishback claims that several U.S. firms are not genuinely looking for American workers. Instead, they go through minimal hiring efforts to meet legal requirements and then recruit cheaper foreign labor under the H-1B program.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Fishback said, “These companies pretend they can’t find Americans for technical roles, but the truth is they’re not even trying. They skip interviews with U.S. applicants and hide job postings in places where almost no one will see them. When no one applies, they use that as an excuse to import more workers on H-1B visas.”
He called the practice a “disgrace” and said it strips Americans of opportunities, fair pay, and the pride that comes with employment. Fishback has demanded that the government end what he calls the H-1B scam once and for all.
“Stop importing Indians,” says Fishback
Fishback has repeatedly voiced frustration over companies prioritizing H-1B hires instead of American graduates. In one of his recent X posts, he wrote, “The H-1B scam is hurting Americans, especially in Florida. If companies here want skilled workers, stop importing Indians and hire graduates from Florida universities.”
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He pointed to institutions like Florida State University (FSU), University of Florida (UF), Florida Atlantic University (FAU), and University of Central Florida (UCF), claiming that these schools produce “brilliant and driven students” ready to work.
According to Fishback, large tech corporations such as Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple are more interested in cheap labor than in supporting local talent. He said the system hurts not only American workers but also the very foreign employees it claims to help.
“The companies aren’t hiring Americans, who are often more qualified than the imported labor from India. The Indians and Chinese think they’re better off, but they too get exploited,” Fishback remarked. “They treat us like we’re becoming strangers in our own country.”
His comments have triggered strong reactions online. Many users condemned his remarks as offensive and xenophobic, while others echoed his concern about the shrinking space for American tech graduates in the job market.
“Made in America” should mean jobs for Americans
In an interview with Fox News, Fishback maintained that the U.S. does not need to rely on foreign professionals. “We already have enough skilled Americans right here at home,” he said.
Fishback shared that during a visit to Florida State University, he met students studying artificial intelligence and computer science who felt uncertain about their future because companies seem to favor H-1B recruits. He emphasized that this pattern has discouraged many local graduates from even applying for roles at big tech companies.
He urged voters to hold politicians accountable on the issue. “If a politician refuses to end the H-1B scam, don’t support them,” he said. “It doesn’t matter which party they belong to—supporting H-1B means choosing cheap labor over Americans.”
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Fishback argued that “Made in America” should stand for jobs created and filled by Americans, not a system that imports workers from abroad. He also stated that 2026 should be the year when Americans take a stand for domestic workers and demand fair hiring.
Who is James Fishback?
James Fishback founded Azoria in 2023 after working at Greenlight Capital in 2021. His investment firm focuses on merit-based approaches and has drawn attention for rejecting corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Outside of business, he leads Incubate Debate, a non-profit organization that trains high school students in debate and critical thinking.
Earlier in 2024, Fishback left the DOGE initiative following a disagreement with Elon Musk over comments directed at former U.S. President Donald Trump. Fishback demanded an apology from Musk and accused him of unfairly attacking Trump.
Later that year, he introduced the Azoria Meritocracy ETF at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, a fund that invests in S&P 500 companies not engaged in DEI programs. He has also worked alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, another businessman known for opposing DEI initiatives.
Fishback’s fiery statements about the H-1B program have ignited a fresh wave of debate in both political and technology circles. While some agree that American talent deserves more opportunities, others view his remarks as unfair to foreign professionals who contribute to U.S. innovation and growth.