Trump Imposes $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee, Slapping American Workers and Economy

The Real Cost of Trump's $100,000 Visas: A Blow to American Workers and the Economy In a move that has sparked widespread criticism from experts and advocates, President Donald Trump announced last week that the United States would begin imposing a $100,000 fee on all new H-1B visa applications. The high-skill foreign professionals who rely on these visas to work in the US are now facing an exorbitant sum, which critics argue will not only hurt American workers but also have far-reaching consequences for the economy. According to Trump, the hefty fee is intended to compel companies to turn to high-skill American workers instead of relying on foreign talent. "We're going to take that money and we're going to reduce taxes, we're going to reduce debt," he said during a recent press conference. However, experts warn that this move will have the opposite effect. "The administration's plan is likely to hurt American workers and the whole economy," said Sean Rameswaram, co-host of the podcast "The Daily" from which this story originated. "By making it prohibitively expensive for companies to hire foreign talent, we're essentially forcing them to turn to cheaper labor, which will lead to job losses and downward pressure on wages." The H-1B visa program is a cornerstone of the US immigration system, with 85,000 people awarded visas each year in fields such as tech, finance, medicine, and science. The majority of these workers come from countries like India, China, and the Philippines. Critics argue that Trump's plan is part of a broader effort to restrict immigration and favor American-born workers. However, this approach has been met with skepticism by experts who point out that the US economy relies heavily on foreign talent to drive innovation and growth. "The idea that we can simply replace foreign workers with American workers is a myth," said Hady Mawajdeh, co-host of "The Daily." "The reality is that many of these jobs require specialized skills that are in short supply in the US. By driving up costs for companies to hire foreign talent, we're essentially pricing ourselves out of the global market." As the debate over Trump's visa plan continues, experts warn that the consequences will be far-reaching and devastating for American workers and the economy. Background: The H-1B visa program was established in 1990 to allow US companies to hire foreign professionals with specialized skills. The program has been criticized in recent years for being exploited by companies seeking cheap labor, but experts argue that it remains a vital component of the US immigration system. Additional Perspectives: "This plan is a classic example of protectionism gone wrong," said Rohit Chopra, an economist at the Center for American Progress. "By restricting access to foreign talent, we're essentially putting our own economic growth at risk." "The administration's plan will only serve to drive up costs and reduce competition in the US job market," said Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook. "We need to be welcoming innovation and talent from around the world, not pushing it away." Current Status: The $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications is set to take effect immediately, with companies facing a steep increase in costs for hiring foreign professionals. As the debate over Trump's plan continues, experts warn that the consequences will be far-reaching and devastating for American workers and the economy. Next Developments: The fate of Trump's visa plan remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the consequences will be felt far beyond the US borders. As the global economy becomes increasingly interconnected, countries around the world are watching with bated breath as the US navigates its complex immigration policies. *Reporting by Vox.*