On Monday, US Representative Greg Steube, affiliated with the Republican Party, proposed new legislation aimed at abolishing the H-1B visa programme. The bill, named the Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions (EXILE) Act, seeks to revise the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the visa programme. Steube has served Florida’s 17th congressional district since 2019 and aims to end the H-1B programme, which enables American companies to employ highly skilled foreign professionals to address gaps in expertise and maintain competitiveness in sectors such as technology.
Background of the Proposal
Steube’s initiative follows a similar effort by former US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had introduced the End H-1B Now Act prior to her departure from the Georgia 14th Congressional District. Greene’s proposal also targeted the termination of the H-1B programme but allowed for a temporary exemption for 10,000 medical professionals over a decade. Announcing his legislation on the social media platform X, Steube stated his intention by saying, “Today I am filing legislation to end the H-1B visa programme.” He criticized the existing programme, asserting that American workers have been negatively impacted by its exploitation, resulting in wage suppression and job displacement for many US citizens.
Content of the EXILE Act
According to a press release from Steube’s office, the EXILE Act intends to prioritise the well-being of American workers over foreign labour, claiming that the current system conflicts with national interests. The proposed act specifically aims to amend Section 214(g)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, effectively nullifying the H-1B programme. The proposal cites multiple instances where the H-1B visa allegedly undermined the welfare of American workers. Steube notes that over 10,000 US physicians have reportedly been unable to access residency programmes due to over 5,000 foreign doctors entering the country through this visa category.
Allegations Against the H-1B Programme
The press release further states that more than 16,000 employees at Microsoft were impacted following the approval of over 9,000 H-1B visas in 2025. Additionally, it references the entertainment industry, noting that in 2015, Disney let go of 250 employees, only to replace them with foreign workers arriving on H-1B visas. The energy sector is also mentioned, with an instance in 2014 where Southern California Edison terminated 540 staff members, subsequently bringing in replacements through two Indian outsourcing firms that utilised the H-1B programme.
Impact of the Proposed Legislation
If the EXILE Act passes, it will eliminate the issuance of H-1B visas entirely starting in 2027, effectively terminating the programme. Despite the bill’s introduction, numerous analyses have highlighted the critical role that H-1B professionals play in the US economy. Recent assessments indicate that major technology firms significantly depend on H-1B workers to support artificial intelligence development projects. In addition to technology, H-1B visa holders are frequently employed to fill shortages of specialised teachers and to assist cash-strapped rural hospitals with adequately trained medical staff.
