A coalition of Republican lawmakers has launched what immigration experts say is the strongest legislative challenge yet on immigration. H-1B visa Shows I’ve seen. Here are the details of the proposed bill, the individuals who support it, and the potential impact on the hundreds of thousands of skilled foreign workers, a large portion of whom are Indian, who rely on the program.
Also read: What is the EXILE Act? U.S. Congress proposes bill to terminate H1B visa
this H-1B This program is designed for employers who wish to recruit non-immigrant aliens for specialized occupational positions or as fashion models with exceptional qualities and abilities. Professional careers require the application of a specialized body of knowledge and require at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Purpose H-1B The purpose of this provision is to assist employers who are unable to find necessary business skills and expertise in the U.S. workforce by allowing the temporary hiring of qualified individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States.
On September 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor launched Project Firewall, a H-1B The program is designed to protect the rights, wages, and employment opportunities of high-skilled American workers. The initiative will ensure employers prioritize qualified U.S. candidates when hiring and will hold employers accountable for any abuse of the H-1B visa process.
The legislation, introduced in the U.S. Congress by Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane, represents a sweeping effort to reform the H-1B visa program. This program allows U.S. employers to recruit skilled foreign workers for specialized positions when there are no suitable U.S. candidates. Crane and his supporters believe the system has been exploited by large corporations to replace American employees with cheaper foreign labor.
“The federal government should serve hard-working citizens, not big corporate profit margins. We have a responsibility to the American people and prevent the broken H-1B system from excluding them from jobs for which they are eligible,” Crane said.
The legislation is supported by House Republicans: Brian Babin, Brendan Gill, Wesley Hunter, Keith Self, Andy Ogles, Paul Gosar and Tom McClintock. Congressman Paul Gosar claimed that the program was “hijacked to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor, plain and simple.”
Congressman Brandon Gill, who is married to Indian-American Danielle D’Souza, is one of the co-sponsors of the plan. “I am proud to co-sponsor Rep. Eli Crane’s effort to reform and tighten our H-1B visa system, ensuring our immigration system works for American workers first and foreign nationals second,” he said.
The proposed legislation addresses the H-1B program from multiple angles:
Reduce cap: The number of visas issued annually will be reduced from 65,000 to 25,000.
minimum wage requirements: The minimum salary for H-1B visa holders is $200,000.
Restrictions on dependents: Visa holders are not allowed to bring their family members with them.
No way to get a green card: This legislation seeks to prevent H-1B holders from obtaining permanent residence.
Abolition of OPT: An optional practical training program widely used by international students will be discontinued.
visa transition: Nonimmigrants are obligated to leave the United States before changing to another visa category.
federal agencies: Government entities will be prohibited from sponsoring or hiring non-immigrant workers.
Indian workers, especially those in the technology industry, are one of the largest groups of H-1B visa recipients. The significant reduction in the annual limit, combined with the $200,000 salary requirement and the elimination of dependent visas, will make the program more difficult to access and much less attractive to workers and their families.
The legislation also adds to pressure previously exerted by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump previously announced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions, a decision that caused widespread concern among current and potential visa holders.
Rosemary Jenks, an immigration policy expert who participated in drafting the bill, made it clear: “This is the strongest H-1B bill ever introduced in Congress. H-1B visas are sold to the American people as short-term visas to fill temporary labor gaps while Americans are trained to take these jobs.”
Jenks further noted that without the option to extend, H-1B workers would be required to return to their home countries after three years, forcing companies to hire and train new U.S. workers, which may increase costs in the short term but, as proponents say, will ultimately reduce reliance on foreign labor in the long term.
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