Texas Republican says H-1B visas ‘distort the market’ by forcing U.S. graduates saddled with high debt to compete with foreigners

Texas Republican Steve Toth has called for a complete rewrite of the H-1B visa system, arguing that the program “distorts the market” and leaves American graduates struggling under heavy debt loads while competing for low-wage jobs.Toth is a Texas state representative running for U.S. Congress. He made the remarks while speaking with MAGA attorney Matt Gaetz, who asked him what he would do about immigration enforcement and border controls if elected.

“We have to completely rewrite the H-1B visa… Kids are graduating from school with record debt, and they’re entering the workforce competing with people on H1B visas who are willing to work half as much… It’s distorting the market, and that has to stop,” Toth said.Toth believes that students leave college with huge debts only to find themselves competing against foreign workers (who may be Indians and Chinese) employed under the H-1B visa program. He linked the rising cost of education to the huge tuition revenue bonds awarded to colleges, saying they have failed to make higher education more affordable for Americans.Toth explains how schools and colleges are making education expensive for Americans: “Look, man, we give schools and colleges huge tuition revenue guarantees. What they don’t know is that it doesn’t make education cheaper, for some reason it seems to make education more expensive. So kids are graduating from school with record amounts of debt. And then what happens is they get into the job pool and compete with people on H1B visas who are willing to work for half the price they’re willing to work for. It’s what distorts the market. Well, so this has to stop. “Todt said that in addition to visa reform, immigration enforcement should be stricter. In response to Gates’ question about border policy, he said existing executive actions under President Donald Trump should be permanently enshrined in law.“So, first of all, we have to codify what Trump did through executive order. Number one, it has to be codified into law. Number two, we have to completely rewrite the H1B visa situation.”He also claimed that large numbers of immigrants enter the United States every year, many of whom rely on welfare support. He added, “Well, look, we bring a million people into the United States every year. That million, or 333,000 people, go directly onto the welfare rolls.”Todt also proposed stricter entry conditions for foreigners, including mandatory background checks and sponsorship requirements that would make individuals responsible for ensuring newcomers work and pay taxes.He added: “So, in addition to that, we have to start going back to that old adage that if you want to come here, you have to get a background check and someone has to sponsor you. Meaning, they will be responsible for making sure you are working and paying your taxes. If you don’t, you’re out of here, number one. “He has also made controversial remarks about immigrants from Muslim-majority countries.“Second, no one from an Islamic country belongs in America,” he said. “Islam is incompatible with Western ideals of democracy and free markets. They’re just incompatible.”The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialized occupations such as technology and defense.