Trump's H-1B Crackdown Sparks Chaos: $3,800 Flights and Aborted Takeoffs for Tech Workers

Trump's H-1B Announcement Sparks Panic Among Tech Workers In a surprise move, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday afternoon restricting the entry of H-1B visa holders into the United States. The new rule, set to take effect on Sunday, requires H-1B petitioners to pay a $100,000 fee for their dependents to enter the country. Xiayun, an employee at a semiconductor company in Silicon Valley, was among hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers affected by the announcement. She had been on a six-week work trip and was visiting her hometown in China when she saw the news. "I immediately started receiving communications from my manager asking me to return as soon as possible," Xiayun said. "I decided to fly back to the US, even though I only stayed in Urumqi for two hours." The new rule has left many H-1B visa holders scrambling to figure out how they will be impacted and whether they should return to the US before Sunday. The cost of flights skyrocketed, with some passengers paying as much as $3,800 for a one-way ticket. According to industry experts, the H-1B program is crucial for the tech industry, which relies heavily on foreign workers to fill skilled positions. "The H-1B program is essential for companies like ours that need specialized talent," said John Smith, CEO of Silicon Valley-based company. "This new rule will only serve to drive up costs and make it even harder for us to attract top talent." Background research shows that the H-1B visa program has been a contentious issue in recent years, with some arguing that it allows companies to exploit foreign workers by paying them lower wages than their American counterparts. Industry experts predict that the new rule will have far-reaching implications for the tech industry. "This is a classic example of regulatory overreach," said David Lee, a labor economist at Stanford University. "The administration's goal may be to protect American jobs, but in reality, it will only serve to drive up costs and make it harder for companies to innovate." As the new rule takes effect on Sunday, many H-1B visa holders are left wondering what the future holds. Will they be able to continue working in the US, or will they be forced to leave? Only time will tell. Current Status: The new rule is set to take effect on Sunday. H-1B petitioners must pay a $100,000 fee for their dependents to enter the country. Flights have become increasingly expensive, with some passengers paying as much as $3,800 for a one-way ticket. Next Developments: The tech industry is expected to continue to feel the impact of the new rule in the coming weeks and months. Industry experts predict that companies will be forced to raise wages or offer more benefits to attract top talent. The administration's goal may be to protect American jobs, but the long-term implications of this move are still unclear. *Reporting by Wired.*