A Republican representative has put forth legislation in Congress designed to abolish the H-1B visa program by 2027, under a proposal known as the Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions Act, or the EXILE Act. This bill was introduced by Congressman Greg Steube from Florida in the House of Representatives, necessitating amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The proposed legislation aims to reduce the annual cap on H-1B visas to zero starting from the fiscal year 2027. The H-1B visa program enables American companies to recruit foreign professionals for specialized positions requiring technical skills or advanced academic credentials. It is often utilized across various industries, including technology, healthcare, engineering, and scientific research. A significant portion of H-1B visa holders are individuals from India and China.
Supporters of the program argue that it allows businesses to fill vacancies in critical sectors and maintains competitiveness. In contrast, some factions within the American political landscape, particularly those affiliated with the ‘America First’ ideology, have contended that the program allows companies to supplant U.S. workers with less expensive foreign labor.
In a public statement, Congressman Steube expressed concern regarding the impact of the visa system on American workers, asserting that an emphasis on foreign labor undermines American values and interests. He highlighted that young professionals have been particularly affected, feeling “displaced and disenfranchised” by the existing system. Steube emphasized the need to protect opportunities for U.S. citizens, claiming that the American dream must not be sacrificed for the benefit of non-citizens.
The EXILE Act specifically targets Section 214(g)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which outlines regulations concerning the H-1B visa cap. If the bill is enacted, firms would no longer have the ability to submit petitions for H-1B visas once the cap is eliminated. Data presented by Steube’s office indicates that over 80 percent of H-1B visas are granted to nationals from India and China, with the majority engaged in information technology and related sectors.
The introduction of this legislation occurs amid ongoing discussions about immigration policy in the United States. Recent modifications by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have altered the processing of H-1B visas, with an increased focus on prioritizing higher-skilled and higher-paid applicants and implementing tighter review measures. These changes were facilitated during former President Donald Trump’s second term, which took a more stringent approach to the visa program.
The EXILE Act must undergo committee evaluation and secure passage in both the House and the Senate before it can be enacted into law. Steube’s initiative is not the sole effort aimed at dismantling the H-1B program; former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has also voiced her stance against the visa system. Conversely, some prominent business figures, including Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, have advocated for the H-1B program, arguing that it attracts top-tier talent from across the globe to bolster the U.S. economy.
