The White House has defended the Trump administration’s tough stance on the H-1B visa programme. Officials said the new $100,000 application fee aims to curb misuse and protect American workers. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told IANS that President Donald Trump has done more than any modern leader to tighten immigration rules.
Rogers said the fee will discourage companies that rely on low-wage foreign labour. She also pointed to the launch of “Project Firewall,” a Department of Labor effort that investigates firms suspected of violating H-1B rules. She said the administration wants the programme to support only highly skilled workers in specialised fields.
The defence comes after Trump backed the visa system in a Fox News interview. When asked if he planned to scale it back, he said the U.S. still needs foreign talent. He argued that some roles require skills that are not widely available among American workers.
His remarks triggered a fresh wave of criticism from conservative leaders. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene renewed her push to ban H-1B visas in most sectors. She claimed ending the programme would open more jobs and homes for Americans.
Policy experts disagreed. Sarah Pierce of Third Way said Greene’s proposal would harm the country and reduce access to essential medical care.
