The United States Department of Labor recently released a pointed video advertisement accusing companies of misusing the H-1B visa program, with a bold focus on India commanding 72 percent of the visa holders in the country. The 52-second video highlights how the "American dream" has been “stolen” from many young Americans due to foreign workers replacing jobs as a result of widespread abuse of this visa category. This campaign is part of President Donald Trump’s broader “America First” agenda aimed at prioritizing American workers in the job market.

The video features a pie chart underscoring India’s dominant share of H-1B visa holders, followed by China at 12 percent. It emphasizes that the misuse of the visa program has allowed corporations to replace American workers, hindering career opportunities for young citizens. The narration credits the Trump administration and Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer for launching “Project Firewall,” an initiative to hold companies accountable for visa misuse and ensure Americans are prioritized in hiring decisions.

This crackdown aligns with recent policy changes, including a controversial proclamation signed by Trump in September 2025 imposing a $100,000 one-time fee on H-1B visa petitions. Although the fee is not annual and does not affect current visa holders, it triggered concern among Indian professionals in the US tech sector. The H-1B visa permits foreign workers in specialty roles like IT, engineering, and medicine to work in the US for up to six years, but critics argue the program has been exploited to undercut wages and displace qualified Americans.

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The Department of Labor and the Trump administration justify these stricter measures as necessary to protect American labor markets by ensuring only highly skilled foreign workers, who cannot be replaced locally, are admitted. The “Project Firewall” initiative further involves rigorous audits of companies suspected of exploiting the H-1B visa system, particularly in technology and engineering sectors where abuse has often been reported.

While this campaign has reignited debate about immigration and labor policies, it underscores the complexities of balancing economic globalization with domestic employment interests. India, as the largest supplier of H-1B workers, finds itself at the center of this controversy, facing increased scrutiny amidst ongoing political and economic shifts in visa regulations in the US.

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