Trump administration targets misuse of H-1B visas

Digital Desk

The Trump administration’s Department of Labour has accused several companies of misusing H-1B visas, alleging they replaced qualified American workers with low-paid foreign employees. The department released a 51-second video claiming that such practices have “stolen the American Dream from the nation’s youth.”

The video, featuring vintage footage of 1950s American families, criticises politicians and bureaucrats who, it says, have allowed companies to exploit the visa system. It highlights that 72% of H-1B visa holders are Indian and 12% are Chinese.

Narrated under the banner of Project Firewall, the video declares that, under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the administration is holding companies accountable and restoring opportunities for American citizens.

Project Firewall: Monitoring visa misuse

Launched in September 2025, Project Firewall is a federal initiative aimed at closely monitoring H-1B visa practices to safeguard American workers’ jobs, wages, and rights.

The programme mandates that companies:

Prioritise American candidates over foreign workers.
Undergo audits to ensure compliance.
Compensate affected workers with back pay if violations are found.
Face civil penalties or temporary bans from the H-1B programme for proven misuse.

The initiative forms part of the Trump administration’s broader push to tighten immigration-related labour practices and “bring back jobs to Americans.”

H-1B visa fee hiked to $100,000 (₹88 lakh)

In a related move, the US government last month raised the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000 (₹88 lakh) — a sharp increase from the earlier ₹5.5–6.7 lakh range.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said the hike, effective September 21, 2025, is a one-time, non-refundable charge applicable only to new applicants.

The stated goal: to reduce reliance on foreign labour and encourage domestic hiring. The change does not affect existing H-1B holders.

Previously, an H-1B visa was valid for three years, renewable once for another three years at the same cost — meaning a total expense of roughly ₹11–13 lakh for a six-year stay.

Florida bans H-1B hires in state universities

Adding to the tightening stance, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday banned the hiring of H-1B visa holders at state universities, directing institutions to prioritise American workers.

DeSantis argued that universities were overlooking qualified Americans in favour of foreign hires. “We will not tolerate the misuse of H-1B visas in Florida,” he said, instructing the Florida Board of Governors to enforce the new policy.

He further suggested that if universities claim a lack of qualified local talent, they should reassess their educational programmes to understand why their graduates are not meeting job requirements.

Florida currently has around 7,200 H-1B visa holders, most working in private sector firms, though the ban specifically targets state university employment.

The administration’s moves — from Project Firewall to the visa fee hike and state-level hiring restrictions — signal a coordinated push to reform the H-1B system, which it argues has long been exploited at the expense of American workers.