Washington, D.C., USA: Esther Crawford, a former executive at X (formerly Twitter), has responded to anti-immigrant comments on X, emphasizing that the platform managed to endure thanks to H-1B engineers, many hailing from India and China, who dedicated immense effort during the company’s takeover phase.
Crawford, who held the position of Director of Product Management during Twitter’s transition and rebranding as X, highlighted that the platform relied heavily on H-1B engineers from India and China after the acquisition, as they invested long hours tackling critical challenges.
“Twitter /X thrived because of H-1B engineers, primarily from India and China. They remained with the company post-acquisition, worked extended hours, and solved incredibly complex problems alongside their American peers. Before posting anti-immigrant opinions, remember: these engineers are the reason you can even send a tweet,” Crawford wrote on X.
Twitter/X survived because of H-1B engineers, mostly from India & China. They stayed after the acquisition, worked long hours and solved brutally complex problems alongside American colleagues. When posting anti-immigrant takes, remember: they’re the reason you can tweet at all.
— Esther Crawford ✨ (@esthercrawford) September 21, 2025
Her comments follow the recent proclamation by US President Donald Trump, which introduced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications.
In a related development, the US Secretary of Commerce defended the Trump administration’s recent immigration policies and criticized former President Joe Biden, citing the influx of what he called “illegal aliens” into the United States.
“For four years, open-border policies under Democrats overwhelmed our country with illegal immigrants, impacting hardworking Americans. The Trump administration is reversing this harmful trend. These programs ensure that those coming to work in America deliver tangible benefits to our nation. We are stopping workers from taking jobs away from Americans while exploiting the economy without giving back. The Trump administration is restoring our immigration system to prioritize America’s interests,” the Secretary wrote on X.
Following these announcements, the US State Department issued a clarification on Sunday (local time), debunking misinformation circulating about H-1B visa regulations.
The State Department confirmed that the new H-1B rules “do not affect any visas already issued, nor any petitions filed before 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time on September 21, 2025.
It also clarified that the updated fee requirement is applicable only to new petitions or individuals entering the H-1B lottery after September 21, while current visa holders and applications submitted prior to that date are not impacted.
