White House Issues Clarification After Trump’s H-1B Visa Comments

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): A day after U.S. President Donald Trump defended the H-1B visa program, the White House clarified that it remains committed to taking strict action against the misuse of the visa system. The clarification was issued by White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt to the media outlet Daily Wire. On Wednesday, spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the administration is working to reform the country’s immigration system.

According to Rogers, “No modern American president has enforced immigration laws as strongly as President Trump has in such a short time. He has prioritized the interests of American workers.” She added that imposing an additional $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications is the first major step to curb system abuse and prevent American workers from losing jobs to cheaper foreign labor.

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, when Trump was asked if his administration plans to scale back H-1B visas, he said, “No, we need talent.” When the anchor countered that the U.S. already has enough talent, Trump replied, “No, you don’t have some specific talents. You can’t just put unemployed people in a factory or missile plant. These jobs require special skills.”

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor launched investigations into more than 175 potential cases of H-1B visa misuse under an operation called “Project Firewall.” The initiative targets companies suspected of hiring foreign workers in violation of federal rules. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said, “The Department is using every available resource to stop H-1B abuse and protect American jobs.”

The Trump administration’s H-1B visa policy has drawn criticism from several lawmakers and organizations. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, America’s largest business group, has even filed a lawsuit challenging the policy. On October 31, five U.S. lawmakers wrote to Trump, urging him to reconsider his September 19 order, warning that it could negatively affect India–U.S. relations.

In 2024, Indian professionals accounted for nearly 70% of all H-1B visas issued, as India continues to have the largest pool of skilled applicants and pending cases related to the program.