United States: Florida Congressman and Republican Party member Greg Steube has introduced a bill to end the H-1B visa program in the United States. The proposal, known as the Ending Exploitative Imported Labor Exemptions (EXILE) Act, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the H-1B program by 2027.
EXILE Act Aims to Prevent Alleged Exploitation of American Workers
Steube claimed that the H-1B visa system has been consistently abused. He argues that opportunities for high-paying jobs for American workers have diminished as companies employ cheaper foreign labor, suppressing wages and outcompeting American workers.
Following in the Footsteps of Marjorie Taylor Greene
The EXILE Act follows a similar effort by former Georgia congresswoman and Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene previously introduced the End H-1B Now Act, which also aimed to eliminate the H-1B program, while also allowing a 10-year temporary exemption for only 10,000 medical professionals.
The H-1B Program and Its Role
The H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to employ specially skilled foreign professionals who fill skills shortages in technology and other industries and help U.S. industries compete globally. If passed, the EXILE Act would completely eliminate the H-1B program by 2027, marking a major shift in U.S. immigration and labor policy.