US Justice Dept Official: Employers Cannot Discriminate Against American Workers

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, a former aide to President Donald Trump, has firmly stated that American employers will not be allowed to discriminate against U.S. citizens in hiring practices. Her comments come in response to the recent controversy involving Y Combinator partner Ankit Gupta and broader discussions about tech companies' hiring of foreign workers.

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This administration will not allow American employers to discriminate against American workers. It is illegal, wrong, and bad for our economy.

Dhillon clarified that her remarks are not specifically aimed at Gupta or Y Combinator but address a systemic issue across the tech industry. She highlighted that many large public tech companies prefer hiring individuals on H-1B visas, often at lower pay rates, over American workers. Dhillon also pointed to hiring practices involving OPT (Optional Practical Training) and the tendency for foreign-born managers to hire from their home countries, sometimes without widely advertising job openings.

"These are not good business practices; they are not patriotic economic practices; and they are illegal labor practices," Dhillon declared. She emphasized that the current administration is committed to ensuring American employers do not discriminate against American workers, calling such practices illegal, wrong, and detrimental to the U.S. economy. She expressed confidence that colleagues at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Labor (DOL) share this view and are working together to create a level playing field for American workers.

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This is not aimed at @ycombinator or one guy popping off, this problem permeates American industry & academia, and it’s a bipartisan scandal.

The controversy ignited when Ankit Gupta, of Indian origin, defended tech companies' hiring of H-1B visa holders. He argued that prioritizing Americans solely based on their nationality could be seen as another form of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). This stance led to backlash, with Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan eventually stating the company prefers hiring Americans. The debate also drew comments from figures like JD Vance and Elon Musk, who echoed sentiments favoring the hiring of qualified individuals regardless of nationality, while Gupta's defense of H-1B visas drew criticism.

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I believe the most qualified person should get the job.