US Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Abolish H-1B Visa Program

A significant legislative proposal in the United States aims to completely abolish the H-1B visa program, a move that could have profound implications for skilled foreign workers, particularly those from India. U.S. Representative Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, has introduced the 'Ending Exploitative Imported Labor Exemptions Act,' commonly known as the 'EXILE Act.' This bill proposes to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to discontinue the H-1B program entirely, setting the number of H-1B visas to zero beginning in fiscal year 2027 and for all subsequent years. Representative Steube's primary argument for introducing the EXILE Act is that the H-1B program has been exploited by corporations to prioritize foreign labor over American citizens, thereby undermining American values, national interests, and the well-being and prosperity of American workers. He contends that the program displaces American workers and young jobseekers, leading to fewer opportunities for them. The bill's supporters point to several examples illustrating this alleged displacement. These include claims that the H-1B program facilitated the entry of over 5,000 foreign-born doctors, potentially blocking more than 10,000 U.S. physicians from securing residency placements. Other cited instances involve allegations that FedEx's use of the H-1B program led to the closure of over 100 facilities, Disney laying off 250 employees in 2015 to replace them with foreign workers, and Southern California Edison firing 540 workers in 2014, with their roles filled by employees from Indian outsourcing firms utilizing H-1B visas. Furthermore, the bill's proponents suggest that over 16,000 Microsoft employees were displaced following the approval of more than 9,000 H-1B visas in 2025. The H-1B visa program has historically been a critical pathway for highly skilled professionals from countries like India and China to work in the United States, particularly in sectors such as technology, engineering, medicine, and finance. Data indicates that over 80% of H-1B visa recipients are nationals of India or China, with a tendency for employers to favor younger workers. Consequently, the potential abolition of the H-1B program raises significant concerns for Indian professionals, as it represents a primary route for them to access employment and opportunities in the U.S. The Indian government and industry leaders have previously expressed concerns about changes to H-1B visa policies, highlighting the program's importance to India's IT services industry and its contribution to the U.S. economy. This proposed legislation is part of a broader ongoing debate and a series of legislative and administrative actions concerning U.S. immigration policy, particularly concerning skilled workers. In recent times, the Trump administration had implemented stricter measures, including increased scrutiny, enhanced vetting processes for visas, and a significant fee hike for H-1B petitions. These measures, including a $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions and a shift from a random lottery to a wage-weighted selection system, aim to prioritize higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign workers and protect American jobs. It is important to note that while the EXILE Act proposes a complete abolition, other legislative efforts have also sought to reform or modify the H-1B program. For instance, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene had previously introduced a bill to end the H-1B program with a limited exemption for medical professionals, and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi had proposed a bill to double the annual H-1B visas. The current proposal by Representative Steube represents a more drastic approach to addressing concerns about the H-1B visa program's impact on the American workforce. The implications of the EXILE Act, if passed, would be far-reaching, affecting not only the flow of skilled talent into the U.S. but also the business models of companies reliant on foreign professionals and the career prospects of millions of individuals worldwide, especially those from India. The news was published on February 10, 2026. The verification confirms that a bill has indeed been introduced by Representative Greg Steube aiming to end the H-1B visa program. The arguments and examples cited in the bill are consistent across multiple credible news sources. While the article from Siasat.com is accurate in reporting the introduction of the bill, it is important to note that this is a legislative proposal and its passage is not guaranteed. The broader context of H-1B visa policy changes and debates in the U.S. is also accurately reflected in the reporting.

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