Bill To 'Eliminate' H-1B Visa Program Introduced in Congress

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Jan 06, 2026 at 03:47 AM EST updated Jan 06, 2026 at 05:42 AM EST


A bill that would "eliminate the H-1B program," which helps U.S. companies hire highly skilled foreign workers, was among Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's final two final pieces of proposed legislation, new records show. The Republican of Georgia introduced the bill and another to mandate "photo identification and proof of United States citizenship to vote in Federal elections" on Friday.

She served her final day in Congress for Georgia's 14th district on Monday, following her a high-profile break with President Donald Trump over issues such as health care, the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and foreign policy.

Why It Matters

The H1-B visa program has been under heavy scrutiny during President Trump's second term. In September, Trump ordered a controversial $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas, sparking ongoing legal challenges. In court papers, Trump's administration argued the substantial increase is necessary to protect American jobs and fund border security, while critics—including some business groups, educators and state governments—warned it would stifle innovation, competitiveness, and specialized fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and medicine.

Greene's bill goes one step further than the government's position, seeking to end the program entirely.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/eliminate-h1b-visa-program-congress-bill-marjorie-taylor-greene-11312655

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Less doctors, less engineers, less scientists, etc.

Great idea!

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Our citizens study psychology, history, journalism and avoid sciences and math

in aggregate. We will have no technological edge in anything.

[Ollie Garkie]

8. Oh, bullshit-nt

[dedl67]

10. Or they study law or business.

The study of mathematics, science, and engineering at high levels is not easy and requires motivation. That level of motivation seems in general to be higher in students from other countries. We are lucky they want to come here, as they contribute the dominance of the US in many technical fields and to our wealth as a nation. That dominance is starting to wane, and can easily vanish if we cannot bring the best minds in the world to the US.

[xocetaceans]

14. Not really. All you are doing is defending a low-wage program to satisfy the tech companies and their backing VCs, etc.

It is the same all the way around with immigration. If it weren't generally that way, we would have a well-run immigration program that would keep all migrant workers out of the shadows, would give them full rights under the law, and would ensure fair wages, but that is not how it is, is it? This country was based on extractive labor practices and land theft. The land theft had seemingly completely receded until it seems to have achieved a potential comeback under Trump (e.g., Venezuela, Greenland? ), but extractive labor is still seen in unlivable wages and low salaries. And none of that even addresses what has been done to higher education in this country--both to the students (see the lack of funding for universities and rising tuition) and to the faculties (see adjunct professors).

So, if you are happy externalizing the cost of profits for VCs (US students and US workers will pay that price), keep supporting what you support. Just don't get confused about "dominance in tech fields" based on past immigration due to world war, famine, the fall of the Soviet Union, etc. The US has plenty of perfectly competent STEM graduates. (My guess is that you don't even have a reasonable metric to determine what 'best' means in the context of your statement IF such a determination is even possible.)

Also, how do you realistically expect to "bring the best minds in the world to the US" under Trump? You seem to be living in a fantasy world or to have stopped paying attention to everything that the Trump administration has been doing to science in the US since last year.

On a more realistic note, the biggest threat to tech dominance right now is the cloud of hype surrounding the thing that is called 'Artificial Intelligence'. It is certainly artificial but not 'intelligent'. If you want to kill people's faith that science is useful, keep pushing the currently half-baked tech that is mistakenly called 'AI' on them. If all of that is tech dominance, it won't be missed if it is lost.

[dedl67]

15. If the H1B visas are being used to undercut salaries in engineering, that is wrong.

But I am speaking from over 50 years of experience in research in the sciences and I know that we need a steady flow of the most brilliant scientists from all over the globe to retain our position in the sciences. I don't disparage American students - I was one. But I also am an observer of what is needed in terms of talent in order to produce the best science, and I believe that reducing the flow of top talent in the sciences from all over the world will be a terrible mistake.

[fujiyamasan]

17. There are enough US citizens and permanent residents to do the kind of work H1Bs are mostly used for

The biggest problem is the visa is not really used for high level/ senior engineering or r&d positions. It’s often used for lower level work that could be done by someone already here. So called “genius” visas which are more limited may be a better fit for those with exceptional skills.

I may have been willing to defend the program to an extent when unemployment was really low, but it’s definitely rising in the tech industry. AI is definitely having an impact here and this is just the beginning.

[DBoon]

3. If the workers aren't allowed in the US

Companies will move their facilities abroad.

[dickthegrouch]

4. The same companies may just employ them in other countries

The biggest hidden consequence that I can see, on first analysis, is that the tax dollars from all those patent royalties (that will now be issued in other countries, as a result of the inventors no longer being here) may not accrue to the US any longer.

Be careful what you wish for, MAGA!

[mdbl]

5. Be careful what you wish for, MAGA!

That would be asking them to think logically. Not gonna happen.

[Nigrum Cattus]

6. the U.S. has more than enough Engineers & Scientists

H1-B visas should only go to doctors & nurses
here is the proof
https://interestingengineering.com/culture/what-percentage-of-engineering-graduates-actually-work-in-their-respective-fields

[dedl67]

13. If you actually read the article you will see that there is actually a shortage of qualified workers in some fields

Many people trained in engineering get lured into other lines of work, where financial or other rewards may be greater.

[Ollie Garkie]

7. This out of work

tech worker wholeheartedly approves. I and most of my even more skilled colleagues have always seen H1Bs as fraudulent excuses to drive down wages.

[North Coast Lawyer]

9. H-1B can go

I'm totally OK with doing away with H-1B visas which are basically indentured servitude for low level tech workers (i.e. jobs citizens and permanent residents can easily fill). Would be immigrants with actual high level skills can apply for permanent residency under the "extraordinary ability" visa program.

[dedl67]

11. H1B visas allow highly skilled international students with doctoral degrees in the sciences to work in the US

It is incorrect to state that the program is primarily to bring in low level technical workers.

[rolypolychloe]

12. Trumps idea is better

I can't believe I just said that, but Trumps idea is better with one caveat. The fee must be used to provide a full scholarship to an American citizen to be trained in the field the company is complaining they can't find anyone here.

I believe the H1-B is being used to provide cheap foreign labor. What American is going to spend $100k on an engineering or medical degree only to be undercut by an Indian citizen willing to work for a nickel a day.

I think America has plenty of good engineers, it just doesn't have plenty of engineers willing to work for a nickel a day.

[fujiyamasan]

16. I don't think the H1Bs have been gamed for medicine as they have for tech

A lot of the tech h1s were issued to Indian consulting firms (WITCH), which everyone knows undercut prevailing wages. There’s no justification to continue the program when unemployment in the sector is rising due to AI.

There is a shortage of doctors in the US, at least in rural areas. But I think the constraints are due to the AMA arbitrarily capping the med school seats. Better incentives could also be offered to those willing to work in underserved areas.