Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt criticized elite universities for using the H-1B visa program to hire staff for their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices, arguing that these positions do not meet the criteria of ‘specialty occupations’ meant to fill skills gaps in the American workforce.
Prominent universities like Dartmouth, Carnegie Mellon, and Yale have applied for H-1B visas for various DEI roles, raising concerns about the appropriateness of such hires under the visa’s intended purpose.
Experts, including National Association of Scholars’ editor Jared Gould, supported Schmitt’s view by stating that DEI roles are bureaucratic and not technical, and should not qualify for H-1B visas, which are intended for high-skill occupations.
