White House Defends H-1B Visa Reforms, Cites Fraud and Abuse
The White House on Thursday defended its recent reforms to the H-1B visa programme, calling them lawful and necessary to address widespread misuse. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the system had been “plagued by fraud” for years, with some firms exploiting loopholes to displace American workers. The new policy, which includes higher application fees and stricter eligibility checks, aims to ensure that visas go to genuinely skilled professionals filling critical gaps. The administration said the reforms are designed to protect U.S. jobs and strengthen oversight. Several tech industry groups and universities, however, have filed lawsuits claiming the changes are excessive and could harm innovation and competitiveness. The White House maintained that it will vigorously defend the reforms in court, emphasizing that curbing abuse of the H-1B system is essential to maintaining fairness in the labor market and upholding the integrity of U.S. immigration policy.
