$100,000 H-1B fee introduced to ‘stop abuse’; Trump says it protects American workers

Washington: The White House has defended the Trump administration’s H-1B visa policy, asserting that the newly introduced $100,000 application fee is a “significant first step to stop abuses of the system” and protect American workers from being replaced by lower-paid foreign labour.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told IANS that the fee ensures H-1B visas are used only to bring in highly skilled foreign workers for speciality occupations, rather than lower-wage employees who could displace Americans. She also highlighted the launch of Project Firewall, a Department of Labor initiative designed to investigate companies that violate H-1B regulations.

“The Trump administration is protecting American workers by restoring accountability in the H-1B process, ensuring it is used for its intended purpose,” Rogers said, stressing that enforcement measures will continue alongside the fee to prevent exploitation of the visa programme.

The policy comes amid continued debate over the role of H-1B visas in the US labour market. President Trump has defended the programme, stating that while the country has talent, certain specialised skills must be imported. In an interview with Fox News, he said, “You don’t have certain talents… and people have to learn; you can’t take people off an unemployment line and put them into highly technical roles.”

However, some Republican lawmakers have criticised the programme. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has proposed legislation to ban H-1B visas in all sectors except healthcare. She argued that ending visas for other industries would free up jobs and improve housing availability for Americans.

Experts, however, have warned that restricting H-1B visas could have unintended consequences. Sarah Pierce, Director of Social Policy at the think tank Third Way, told IANS that limiting the inflow of foreign workers, including medical professionals, could “gut access to care overnight.” Analysts also argued that abrupt restrictions could harm the US economy by reducing the availability of highly specialised labour.

The White House maintains that the fee and enforcement measures are intended to curb misuse without harming sectors dependent on skilled foreign workers. As the debate continues, the administration positions the fee as part of a broader effort to balance protecting American workers with ensuring that critical skills remain accessible in the US economy.