US Republicans propose three-year H-1B visa freeze and major reforms

Washington: Republican lawmakers have tabled the “End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026”, calling for a three-year suspension of H-1B visas and sweeping overhauls to protect American workers from what they term corporate exploitation.

Introduced by Eli Crane, the bill aims to halt new issuances before relaunching with tighter controls. “The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations,” Crane stated, vowing to “prevent the broken H-1B system from boxing them out of jobs they are qualified to perform.”

Cosponsors including Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, and Andy Ogles backed the measure. Gill hailed it for ensuring “our immigration system serves American workers first”, while Gosar decried the programme as “hijacked to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour”. Ogles added: “American workers are being replaced... We will not let Americans become strangers in their own country.”

Key reforms include slashing the annual cap from 65,000 to 25,000, scrapping exemptions and the lottery for a wage-based system with a $200,000 minimum salary. Employers must certify no qualified US workers are available, attest to no recent layoffs, and avoid third-party staffing. The bill bans multiple jobs for H-1B holders, dependents, Optional Practical Training (OPT), and pathways to permanent residency, while mandating departures before visa changes.

Rosemary Jenks of the Immigration Accountability Project called it “the strongest H-1B bill ever introduced in Congress”, praising measures to enforce temporary labour gaps and train Americans.

The H-1B programme, vital for US tech and engineering sectors, has long sparked debate. Critics say it depresses wages; supporters argue it addresses skill shortages. Indian nationals dominate approvals, fuelling ongoing controversy.

(Inputs from IANS)