Washington: The White House has reaffirmed that President Donald Trump’s America First H-1B visa reforms prioritize American workers while cracking down on visa fraud. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration will fight lawsuits challenging the new rules in court.
Leavitt told reporters, “The President’s main priority has always been to put American workers first. The H-1B system has been plagued by fraud for too long, driving down wages. These new policies are lawful, necessary, and will protect American jobs.”
The reforms come after the US Department of Homeland Security issued new guidance on the $100,000 H-1B application fee, including exemptions for workers switching from other visa categories like F-1 student status, as well as for amendments, changes of status, or extensions of stay within the US.
Current H-1B holders will continue to enter and exit the country without disruption, while the fee applies only to new visa petitions filed outside the US. The DHS also introduced an online payment system to streamline the process for new applicants.
Legal challenges have already emerged. Last week, the US Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the fee could increase labor costs and reduce the hiring of highly skilled employees, potentially benefiting foreign competitors. This follows an earlier lawsuit filed by unions, educators, and religious groups in October.
When announcing the reforms in September, Trump emphasized, “The incentive is to hire American workers.” The administration maintains that these measures will strengthen the domestic workforce, curb abuse in the H-1B program, and support fair wages for American employees.
The America First H-1B visa initiative signals a bold push by the Trump administration to reshape US immigration policy while prioritizing the needs of American workers and businesses.
–IANS
