Texas Republican Steve Toth Demands Sweeping H-1B Visa Overhaul
Texas State Representative Steve Toth, who is currently campaigning for a seat in the US Congress, has issued a forceful call for a comprehensive rewrite of the H-1B visa system. In a recent discussion with MAGA-aligned lawyer Matt Gaetz, Toth condemned the program for what he describes as market perversion, arguing it severely disadvantages American university graduates.
"It Perverts the Market": Toth's Critique of H-1B Visas
During the conversation, which centered on immigration enforcement and border control policies, Toth articulated a stark view of the current visa framework. "We’ve got to do a complete rewrite of H-1B visas," Toth stated emphatically. He linked the issue directly to the financial struggles of American students, noting, "Kids are graduating from school with record amounts of debt and they go into the job pool and compete with people that have H1B visas and are willing to work for half... It PERVERTS the market and that’s gotta stop."
Toth elaborated that graduates, burdened by unprecedented student loan debt, find themselves in direct competition with foreign workers—often from countries like India and China—who are employed under the H-1B program and may accept lower wages. This dynamic, he contends, creates an unfair labor market that undermines American economic interests.
Connecting Education Costs to Visa Policy
The Texas Republican further connected the high cost of American higher education to the visa issue. He criticized the allocation of large tuition revenue bonds to universities, arguing that these funds have failed to make education more affordable. "They don't make education less expensive, for some reason it seems to make education more expensive," Toth remarked, suggesting this financial burden exacerbates the challenges graduates face when entering a job market influenced by H-1B visa holders.
Broader Immigration Enforcement Proposals
Beyond his focus on visa reform, Toth advocated for stricter overall immigration enforcement. In response to Gaetz's questioning on border policy, he proposed making former President Donald Trump's executive actions permanent through codification into law. "We've got to codify everything that Trump has done through executive orders. It's got to be codified into law," Toth asserted, listing this as his primary objective.
He also made controversial claims about immigration levels and welfare dependency, stating, "We bring a million people into the United States every year. A million, 333,000 of them go right onto the welfare rolls." To address these concerns, Toth proposed implementing stricter entry conditions for foreign nationals, including:
- Mandatory background checks for all entrants.
- A sponsorship system where a responsible individual ensures the newcomer is employed and paying taxes.
"If you're not, you're out of here," he added, emphasizing enforcement.
Controversial Remarks on Immigration from Muslim-Majority Nations
Toth's proposals extended into highly contentious territory with remarks about immigration from Islamic countries. He declared, "No one from Islamic nations belongs in the United States. Islam is not compatible with the Western ideals of democracy and a free market. They're just they're not." This statement adds a polarizing dimension to his broader immigration platform, which focuses heavily on restriction and reform.
Understanding the H-1B Visa Program
The H-1B visa program is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise, commonly in fields such as technology, engineering, and defense. Critics like Toth argue it can suppress wages and job opportunities for American workers, while proponents highlight its role in filling skill gaps and driving innovation.
Steve Toth's comments reflect a growing debate within US politics over immigration policy, labor markets, and economic protectionism. His campaign for Congress positions visa reform as a cornerstone issue, aiming to address what he perceives as systemic disadvantages for American graduates and workers.
