CNN 5 Things One Thing: How Trump’s Immigration Agenda Could Spark a US Brain Drain
Sep 28, 2025
Aizada Marat, founder and CEO of Alma, shares her inspiring journey from Kyrgyzstan to the U.S. She discusses the proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee, highlighting the potential negative impact on startups and innovation. Aizada emphasizes the risks of losing talented immigrants and challenges the narrative that they undermine American wages. She also raises concerns about companies opting for remote hiring to avoid costs, ultimately questioning policies that seem contradictory to the U.S. reputation for valuing skilled talent.
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Personal Fear After Sudden H-1B Change
- Gabriela Hatari posted a TikTok expressing fear and feeling unappreciated after the surprise H-1B changes.
- She and others worried about being accused of taking American jobs and facing sudden travel uncertainty.
Founder’s Visa Struggle Sparked Alma
- Aizada Marat described long visa struggles including being unable to work or travel for 1.5 years due to bad legal advice.
- That experience motivated her to start Alma to help others navigate immigration uncertainty.
Lottery Shift From Equal Chance To Wage Bias
- The H-1B lottery has tiers and advanced-degree holders currently have better odds.
- The proposed rule would weight selections toward higher-wage positions, changing equal-chance dynamics.