A Republican lawmaker has introduced a new legislation in the US Congress to scrap the H-1B visa programme. Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, has proposed the Ending Exploitative Imported Labor Exemptions (EXILE) Act. The legislation, introduced in Congress on Feb. 9, seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act by terminating the H-1B visa programme entirely.
He stated that companies have repeatedly misused the system to bring in lower-cost foreign workers to the US. According to Steube, the programme weakens opportunities for American workers and places corporate priorities above national welfare.
What Is the proposed EXILE Act?
According to Greg Steube's office, the EXILE Act would amend Section 214(g)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) to end the H-1B visa programme. According to Steube, more than 80% of H-1B visa recipients are Indian or Chinese nationals, with preference often given to younger workers.
The bill, if passed, would effectively end the H-1B visa route by changing provisions under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“Prioritising foreign labour over the well-being and prosperity of American citizens undermines our values and national interests,” Steube said in an official release.
He added, “Our workers and young people continue to be displaced and disenfranchised by the H-1B visa programme that awards corporations and foreign competitors at the expense of our workforce. We cannot preserve the American dream for our children while forfeiting their share to non-citizens. That is why I am introducing the EXILE Act to put working Americans first again.”
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Why Is The H-1B Visa Programme Being Targeted?
H-1B visas are widely used by Indian professionals to live and work in the US. Under US President Donald Trump, the administration has intensified its immigration crackdown, covering both legal and illegal routes. It has also introduced stricter rules around visa programmes such as the H-1B.
In 2025, describing alleged misuse of the H-1B system as a national security threat, Trump signed a proclamation introducing a $1,00,000 fee on new H-1B visas. The move created widespread panic, confusion and concern among Indian professionals.
Starting Dec. 15, 2025, the US State Department also began stringent screening and vetting of H-1B and dependent H-4 visas, including the review of applicants' social media profiles.
Following these guidelines, many H-1B visa interviews scheduled across India were postponed by months, leaving many visa holders, who had travelled to India for visa stamping, stranded.
What Are The Claims About H-1B Visas Affecting US Workers?
In outlining how H-1B visas have allegedly disadvantaged American workers, a release from Steube's office cited multiple examples.
As per the official press release, the programme prevented more than 10,000 US physicians from entering residency programmes while allowing the entry of more than 5,000 foreign-born doctors.
It also said more than 16,000 Microsoft employees were displaced after more than 9,000 H-1B visas were approved in 2025.
According to the release, FedEx's use of the H-1B programme led to the closure of more than 100 facilities across the United States.
It further cited that Disney laid off 250 employees in 2015 and replaced them with foreign workers brought in through the H-1B visa system. In 2014, Southern California Edison terminated 540 workers, whose replacements were brought in from two Indian outsourcing firms that used the H-1B visa programme.
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