“We can not protect the American dream for our youngsters whereas forfeiting their share to non-citizens,” Greg Steube mentioned. Photograph: X/@RepGregSteube
A U.S. lawmaker has launched a invoice to finish the H-1B visa program, saying firms have repeatedly abused this technique and imported cheaper overseas labour into America.
U.S. Consultant Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, launched the ‘Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions Act or EXILE Act’, a invoice that will amend the Immigration and Nationality Act by ending the H-1B visa program.
“Prioritising overseas labour over the well-being and prosperity of Americans undermines our values and nationwide pursuits,” Mr. Steube mentioned in an announcement.
“Our staff and younger folks proceed to be displaced and disenfranchised by the H-1B visa program that awards firms and overseas opponents on the expense of our workforce. We can not protect the American dream for our youngsters whereas forfeiting their share to non-citizens. That’s the reason I’m introducing the EXILE Act to place working Individuals first once more,” he mentioned.
H-1B visas are utilized by a lot of Indian professionals to stay and work within the U.S. The Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on immigration, each authorized and unlawful, imposing new and stringent restrictions on visas equivalent to H-1B.
Describing abuse of the H-1B program as a nationwide safety menace, Mr. Trump final 12 months signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 payment on new H-1B visas, a transfer that brought on widespread panic, confusion and concern amongst Indian professionals.
The assertion mentioned that greater than 80% of recipients of H-1B visas are Indian or Chinese language nationals, with precedence given to youthful staff.
Itemizing examples of how H-1Bs have “deprived” American staff, it mentioned the visa program has prevented greater than 10,000 U.S. physicians from accessing residency packages by facilitating the arrival of greater than 5,000 foreign-born docs.
It additional mentioned that greater than 16,000 Microsoft staff had been displaced following the approval of greater than 9,000 H-1B visas in 2025. It added that FedEx’s utilisation of the H-1B resulted within the shuttering of greater than 100 services throughout america.
Disney laid off 250 staff in 2015, solely to exchange them with overseas staff introduced in through the H-1B visa.
In 2014, Southern California Edison fired 540 staff. Their replacements had been introduced in from two Indian outsourcing corporations that utilised the H-1B visa program.
From December 15 final 12 months, the State Division has additionally begun an enhanced screening and vetting of H-1B and its dependent H-4 visas, checking the social media profiles of the candidates.
On account of this guideline, a number of H1B visa interviews scheduled throughout India have been postponed and pushed months forward, leaving many visa holders who had travelled to India for his or her visa stamping stranded.
Printed – February 10, 2026 06:47 pm IST