Tensions over U.S. immigration and labor policies are escalating with the introduction of a radical bill by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL). The EXILE Act proposes a full shutdown of the H-1B visa program, which Steube labels as exploitative toward American job seekers.
In a statement, Steube criticized the system for sidelining U.S. citizens in favor of foreign hires. He described it as weakening national interests by prioritizing ‘foreign workers over the well-being of Americans.’ The bill seeks to overhaul the Immigration and Nationality Act, capping H-1B issuances at zero from fiscal year 2027.
This visa category enables employers to recruit abroad for specialized roles in tech, engineering, medicine, and finance amid domestic shortages. Yet, Steube insists it harms local talent: ‘H-1B continuously displaces our workforce, handing advantages to corporations on the backs of our youth.’
‘We can’t protect the American Dream by outsourcing it,’ Steube urged, positioning the EXILE Act as a restoration of priorities for native workers.
His office pointed out that 80%+ of H-1B visas go to Indians and Chinese, frequently younger professionals, raising concerns about depressed wages and unfair competition.
Conceived to import niche expertise, H-1B has ballooned into a primary avenue for Asian professionals into the U.S. job market, igniting perennial clashes over employment equity and border control.
Steube’s move aligns with a conservative wave questioning Big Tech’s reliance on foreign labor. Stakeholders from labor unions to tech giants are watching closely, as passage could trigger a seismic shift in hiring practices and innovation pipelines across America.