Washington:
The White House has stated that implementing an additional fee of $100,000 (approximately ₹83 lakh) on certain H-1B visa applications is a “critical step to prevent abuse of the system and prioritize American workers.” This response came in a special statement to IANS.
White House Spokesperson Taylor Rogers said, “President Donald Trump has done more than any modern president in American history to tighten immigration laws and prioritize American workers.” She further stated that this additional fee is a major initial step to eliminate the problem of American workers being replaced by foreign labor for lower wages.
Launch of ‘Project Firewall’
Taylor Rogers also revealed that the Department of Labor recently launched an investigation campaign named ‘Project Firewall’, aimed at probing companies that violate H-1B visa rules.
“We are ensuring that visas are only for high-skilled specialists, not for replacing American employees by bringing in cheap labor,” she said.
Debate Sparked by Trump’s Comments
This statement comes after President Trump recently defended the H-1B visa program in an interview, stating, “You have to bring in talent from the world because we don’t have every kind of talent here.” His comments during the interview intensified debate among Republican leaders and hardline groups.
Calls to Eliminate H-1B
Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on social media platform X that she would introduce a bill to eliminate the H-1B visa entirely, with the exception of the medical sector.
She wrote, “Ending H-1B will strengthen the American job market and also increase housing availability.”
Experts Sound the Alarm
Washington-based immigration expert Sarah Pierce told IANS, “A proposal to completely eliminate the H-1B visa would be the most dangerous step; it could deprive millions of American patients of treatment and cost lives.”
She emphasized that America’s healthcare system is heavily reliant on foreign doctors and specialists. There is a growing concern that Trump’s ‘America First’ policy could end up severely damaging the very country it aims to protect.
