US Congresswoman proposes ending H-1B visas after report shows 70% of them go to Indians

US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has moved to propose ending the H-1B visa programme after sharing a video of Fox News anchor Will Cain, whose remarks have intensified scrutiny of the system. Citing figures highlighted in the segment, Greene pointed to claims that 70% of H-1B visas go to India, 10–15% to China, and that 80% are approved for entry-level roles, arguing that these positions should be filled by young American workers.

Fox News host Will Cain set off a major political storm after delivering a sharp critique of the H-1B visa programme, a segment that swiftly spread across conservative circles online. Cain accused major corporations, particularly technology firms, of using the programme to recruit cheaper foreign workers at the expense of American labour. His comments coincided with the Trump Labor Department opening nearly 200 investigations into alleged H-1B misuse.

Cain argued that the programme is often misunderstood, stating, “That’s a little hard to stomach when we hear we’re not talented or skilled enough, when you consider most are entry- or junior-level.” He pointed to figures showing that 70% of H-1B visa holders come from India and a further 10–15% from China, while 80% of approvals are for entry- or junior-level roles, a pattern he said contradicts claims that US employers lack skilled domestic workers. Calling the system a corporate advantage, he said companies “hire foreign workers cheaper than American workers,” a view echoed by Oculus and Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, who has described the programme as “a programme to replace American workers with slave labour that can’t ever escape.”

Trump’s defence of the H-1B programme sparks backlash  

President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News presenter Laura Ingraham on Tuesday, defended the H-1B programme, long regarded as a route for highly skilled foreign workers to enter specialised roles in the US. His position prompted strong criticism from conservative commentators who argue the system suppresses wages and narrows opportunities for American workers. Ingraham challenged him directly, saying, “If you want to raise wages for American workers, you can’t flood the country with tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of foreign workers.” Trump replied, “No, you don’t,” deepening the divide.

Prominent conservative figures, including podcaster Benny Johnson and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, have since renewed calls to abolish the programme completely. As federal investigations move ahead and political pressure increases, the future of the H-1B visa system remains a central flashpoint in the broader national debate over immigration, labour and American competitiveness.

Notably, Trump said Friday he was pulling his endorsement for key ally Marjorie Taylor Greene after a string of disagreements, calling the hard-right lawmaker a “ranting lunatic”.