The Rise and Fall of the H-1B Visa – American Affairs Journal
9 days ago
- #H-1B Visa
- #Immigration Policy
- #Labor Market
- President Trump announced a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas in 2025, significantly impacting U.S. skilled immigration policy.
- The H-1B visa program, intended to attract top STEM talent, has been criticized for displacing American workers and suppressing wages.
- Corporate lobbying, particularly by tech firms, played a major role in shaping and expanding the H-1B program since its inception in 1990.
- The H-1B visa has been exploited for labor arbitrage, with many workers paid below prevailing wages, especially in Levels 1 and 2.
- Recent reforms under Trump aim to address wage suppression and prioritize American workers, including higher fees and stricter wage requirements.
- The program's lottery system and lack of oversight have led to widespread abuse, particularly by outsourcing firms.
- Debate over H-1B visas has intensified due to rising unemployment among recent graduates and job cuts in the tech sector.
- Proposed reforms include ending the H-4 EAD program, scrutinizing federal contracts, and potentially suspending H-1B visas during economic downturns.
- The future of the H-1B program remains uncertain, with calls for congressional action to either reform or abolish it.