Trump's Crackdown on High-Skill Immigration Will Make Americans Poorer
In a move that has sparked widespread criticism from experts and lawmakers, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 19, 2025, imposing a $100,000 fee on new applications for H-1B visas. The program, which allows American employers to hire foreign workers with rare intellectual abilities, is meant to ensure the US knowledge economy remains competitive.
According to Eric Levitz, senior correspondent at Vox, Trump's plan is "a bad solution to a real problem." Levitz argues that the high fee will disproportionately affect small and medium-sized businesses, which rely heavily on H-1B workers. "This policy change will make it even harder for these companies to compete with larger corporations," he said.
The H-1B program has long been a contentious issue in American politics. Critics argue that it allows foreign workers to take jobs from American citizens, while proponents claim it is essential for filling skills gaps and driving innovation.
Supporters of the policy change say it will help protect American workers by making it more difficult for companies to hire foreign labor. "We need to prioritize American workers and ensure they have access to good-paying jobs," said a White House spokesperson.
However, experts warn that the fee will ultimately harm the US economy. "This policy is a classic example of protectionism gone wrong," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley. "By making it more expensive for companies to hire foreign workers, we're essentially pricing ourselves out of the global talent market."
The new policy has also sparked concerns about its impact on American innovation and competitiveness. "This move will only serve to slow down our economy and make us less competitive globally," said Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a vocal critic of the policy.
As the policy takes effect, many are left wondering what the future holds for high-skill immigration in the US. The Trump administration has indicated that it plans to continue implementing stricter regulations on H-1B visas, but lawmakers and experts remain skeptical about the long-term consequences of these changes.
Background
The H-1B program was established in 1990 to allow American employers to hire foreign workers with specialized skills. The program is capped at 85,000 new visas per year, and applications are typically processed through a lottery system.
Additional Perspectives
Supporters of the policy change argue that it will help protect American workers by making it more difficult for companies to hire foreign labor. "We need to prioritize American workers and ensure they have access to good-paying jobs," said a White House spokesperson.
However, experts warn that the fee will ultimately harm the US economy. "This policy is a classic example of protectionism gone wrong," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley. "By making it more expensive for companies to hire foreign workers, we're essentially pricing ourselves out of the global talent market."
Current Status and Next Developments
The new policy took effect on September 19, 2025, with the Trump administration indicating that it plans to continue implementing stricter regulations on H-1B visas. Lawmakers and experts remain skeptical about the long-term consequences of these changes, and many are left wondering what the future holds for high-skill immigration in the US.
*Reporting by Vox.*
