Don't talk about legalized slavery in regards to these programs. They have the right to walk away at any time, and that's their choice. Spend some time to read about kafala if you want to learn about modern slavery.

They have the right but in reality can’t find another job within the short timespan and after which they become illegal immigrants and have to go back home. Sure, it’s not impossible but on average it’s very hard to break the shackles of the H1B visas. Often these people put up high stakes to obtain these jobs and going back leaves them in debt. It’s a system designed to exploit

Both can be true. Just because one is worse does not make the other ok.

A worse situation does not trivialize a bad situation.

Oh I'm aware of that. The thing is, modern forms of slavery are varied in forms. Some are based on laws but still criticized as inhumane (e.g. US prison labor, kafala in Arab nations), some are based on laws but widely accepted (H1B, conscription in militaries), and some are completely illegal (e.g. human trafficking for sexual and agricultural exploitation).

Being sent back home is absolutely not slavery.

Not everything bad related to work is slavery.

For any high cost of living area where a senior developer works, there are plenty of non-developer workers doing the same 9-5s in the same office buildings on a fraction of their salary.

Maybe try a longer commute or a roommate before whining about your cost of living

W.r.t. immigration- you're certainly right. I would be terrified to rock the boat if my employer could put me at risk of deportation