A new bill has been added to the list of legislative proposals such as EXILE and PAUSE, aiming for a major overhaul of the H-1B visa program, which remains at the center of the immigration controversy in the Trump 2.0 administration.
Introduction of the Bill
Arizona Republican Representative Eli Crane introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 in Congress. The co-sponsors of the bill are Brian Babin, Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, Wesley Hunt, Tom McClintock, Keith Self, and Andy Ogles.
Statement from Rep. Crane
“The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations. We owe it to the American people to prevent the broken H-1B system from boxing them out of jobs they are qualified to perform,” Rep. Crane said, explaining that the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 would provide greater access to employment, strengthen protocols in the visa process, and prioritize the livelihoods of Americans. “I’m honored to introduce this legislation, and I’m grateful for those who raised awareness about this flawed process,” added Rep. Crane.
Key Proposals Under the New Bill
The bill includes several significant changes to the H-1B visa program:
- Reducing the annual H-1B cap from 65,000 to 25,000 and eliminating existing exemptions.
- Replacing the lottery system with a wage-based selection system.
- Requiring employers to certify that they cannot find a qualified American worker and have not conducted layoffs.
- Setting a minimum H-1B wage of $200,000 per year.
- Barring H-1B workers from holding multiple jobs and prohibiting third-party staffing agencies from employing them.
- Disallowing H-1B workers from bringing dependents to the US.
- Prohibiting federal agencies from sponsoring or employing non-immigrant workers.
- Ending Optional Practical Training (OPT).
- Ensuring nonimmigrant visas remain temporary by prohibiting H-1B holders from adjusting status to permanent residency.
- Requiring nonimmigrants to depart the United States before changing to another nonimmigrant status.
Expert Opinion
Immigration policy expert Rosemary Jenks, who helped draft the bill, stated that if H-1B holders do not receive extensions and are sent back home after three years, companies will have to bring in new H-1B workers and train them, making the overall process costlier. This, in turn, would encourage companies to hire Americans.
Support from Co-sponsor
“I am proud to cosponsor Rep. Eli Crane’s efforts to reform and tighten our H-1B visa system, ensuring that our immigration system serves American workers first before foreigners,” said Rep. Brandon Gill, who is married to Indian-origin Danielle D'Souza.
