US bill introduced to end H-1B visa program
Washington saw a new political fight this week over the H-1B visa program. A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill that aims to end the program completely. He says it hurts American workers and gives unfair benefits to foreign labor.
US Representative Greg Steube announced the bill on Tuesday. It is called the Ending Exploitative Imported Labor Exemptions Act. The short name is the EXILE Act. Steube said the bill is meant to put American workers first.
The H-1B visa program allows US companies to hire foreign workers for special jobs. These jobs include fields like technology, engineering, medicine, and finance. The program has been in place for many years and is often used by large companies.
Steube said the program no longer serves its original purpose. He argued that companies use it to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor. He also said young Americans are losing job chances because of it.
He added that the program damages both workers and students who want to build careers in the United States.
Steube said many American workers have been pushed aside. He claimed that big companies benefit the most, while regular workers suffer. According to him, this goes against American values.
The EXILE Act would change the Immigration and Nationality Act. It would remove the section that allows H-1B visas. If passed, the number of H-1B visas would drop to zero starting in the 2027 fiscal year. That would end the program fully.
Steube’s office shared data to support the bill. It said more than 80 percent of H-1B visa holders are from India or China. It also said younger workers are often preferred, which can push out older American employees.
The release listed several examples of job losses. One example focused on the medical field. It claimed that more than 10,000 US doctors were blocked from residency programs. At the same time, over 5,000 foreign-born doctors entered through the H-1B system.
Another example involved Microsoft. The release said that more than 16,000 employees were displaced after the company received approval for over 9,000 H-1B visas in 2025. These claims have been part of long-running debates about the tech industry.
The logistics sector was also mentioned. According to the release, FedEx closed more than 100 facilities across the country. It said the company relied on the H-1B program during that period.
The entertainment industry was included as well. The release said Disney laid off 250 workers in 2015. It claimed those jobs were later filled by foreign workers using H-1B visas.
An example from the energy sector was also shared. The release said their replacements came from two Indian outsourcing firms that used the H-1B program.
Supporters of the bill say these examples show a pattern. They argue that the program is often used to cut costs, not to fill real skill gaps. They believe American workers should have first priority.
Critics of the bill disagree. They say the H-1B program helps fill jobs that lack enough skilled workers. They also say it helps the US stay competitive in science and technology.
For many years, the H-1B visa has been a key path for skilled workers to enter the US. Many professionals from India and China have used it to build careers and lives in America. Some later become permanent residents or citizens.
The program has always been controversial. Lawmakers from both parties have argued over it. Some want reforms. Others want it expanded. This bill goes further by calling for a full end.
It is not yet clear how much support the EXILE Act will get in Congress. Ending the H-1B program would be a major change. The debate is likely to continue, as jobs, wages, and immigration remain sensitive issues for voters.