A US lawmaker has moved a bill in Congress seeking to end the H-1B visa programme, arguing that it has been misused by corporations and has hurt American workers. Republican Representative Greg Steube of Florida introduced the proposal, named the Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions Act, or EXILE Act, which aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act by scrapping the H-1B visa system. In a statement announcing the bill, Steube said the programme favours foreign labour over US citizens and affects jobs and opportunities for Americans. “Prioritising foreign labour over the well-being and prosperity of American citizens undermines our values and national interests,” he said. He added that American workers and young people have been displaced by the programme, and 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.” The H-1B visa allows US companies to employ skilled foreign professionals, and it is widely used by Indian professionals to live and work in the United States. The proposal comes at a time when the Trump administration has stepped up its action on immigration, introducing tighter rules for both legal and illegal migration. Visas such as the H-1B have faced stricter checks and new conditions. The statement linked the H-1B programme to national security concerns and referred to steps taken by former President Donald Trump. Last year, Trump signed a proclamation that imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. This decision led to confusion and concern among many Indian professionals working in or planning to work in the US. According to the statement, more than 80 per cent of H-1B visa recipients are Indian or Chinese nationals, with preference often given to younger workers. It claimed that the programme has affected American professionals in several sectors. It said that over 10,000 US physicians were unable to access residency programmes due to the entry of more than 5,000 foreign-born doctors through H-1B visas. The statement also cited corporate examples. It said that more than 16,000 Microsoft employees were displaced after over 9,000 H-1B visas were approved in 2025. It added that FedEx’s use of the programme led to the closure of more than 100 facilities across the US. Disney laid off 250 employees in 2015 and replaced them with foreign workers hired under the H-1B visa. In 2014, Southern California Edison dismissed 540 workers and hired replacements from two Indian outsourcing firms using the same visa route. Alongside the proposed legislation, visa scrutiny has increased. From December 15 last year, the US State Department began enhanced screening and vetting of H-1B and H-4 visas. This includes checks of applicants’ social media profiles. Following this move, several H-1B visa interviews scheduled across India have been postponed by months. Many visa holders who had travelled to India for visa stamping have been left stranded due to these delays.
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