Summary
A Republican proposal aims to completely ban the H-1B visa program in the U.S., a visa type used by companies to hire foreign workers for specialized jobs. Texas Representative Beth Van Duyne supports this ban, arguing it will protect American workers, while critics say the ban harms economic contributions from H-1B visa holders. The Trump administration has already added restrictions like a $100,000 fee per application.
Key Facts
- The H-1B visa program was created in 1990 to allow U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers for temporary jobs.
- Representative Beth Van Duyne and other Republicans are pushing to end the H-1B program, claiming it negatively impacts American workers.
- President Trump has defended the need for H-1Bs but has imposed higher fees and stricter conditions on applications.
- The H-1B program is mostly used by large tech companies and contributes about $86 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
- There are around 730,000 H-1B visa holders in the U.S., working in tech, finance, and professional services.
- Critics argue the program favors big companies and may suppress local wages.
- California has filed a lawsuit against the $100,000 application fee, claiming it burdens public employers and worsens labor shortages.
