A fresh political debate over skilled immigration has emerged in the United States after a Republican lawmaker introduced legislation seeking to end the H-1B visa program.
U.S. Representative Greg Steube of Florida has introduced the ‘Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions Act’ or EXILE Act. The proposed bill aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act by eliminating the H-1B visa category. The lawmaker argued that corporations have misused the program to hire lower-cost foreign labour instead of American workers.
“Prioritising foreign labour over the well-being and prosperity of American citizens undermines our values and national interests,” Mr. Steube said. “Our workers and young people continue to be displaced and disenfranchised by the H-1B visa program that awards corporations and foreign competitors at the expense of our workforce. We cannot preserve the American dream for our children while forfeiting their share to non-citizens. That is why I am introducing the EXILE Act to put working Americans first again,” he added.
The H-1B visa is widely used by Indian professionals to work in the U.S. The Trump administration has already tightened immigration rules, both legal and illegal, and imposed stricter measures on visa programs including H-1B.
Last year, Mr. Trump described alleged abuse of the H-1B program as a national security threat and signed a proclamation introducing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. The move triggered concern among Indian professionals.
According to the statement, more than 80% of H-1B recipients are Indian or Chinese nationals, with preference often given to younger workers. The lawmaker cited several examples, claiming the program blocked over 10,000 U.S. physicians from residency opportunities while allowing more than 5,000 foreign-born doctors. It also alleged that over 16,000 Microsoft employees were displaced after more than 9,000 H-1B visas were approved in 2025, and that FedEx closed over 100 facilities due to H-1B utilisation. Disney reportedly laid off 250 employees in 2015, and Southern California Edison dismissed 540 workers in 2014, replacing them with H-1B hires.
Since December 15, the State Department has begun enhanced screening of H-1B and H-4 applicants, including social media checks. Several visa interviews in India have been postponed, leaving applicants awaiting stamping stranded.
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