Overview
- Rep. Greg Steube introduced the Ending Exploitative Imported Labor Exemptions (EXILE) Act to set the H‑1B cap at zero beginning in fiscal year 2027, effectively terminating the program.
- The bill is at the introduction stage and must clear committee consideration before any potential floor vote.
- Steube argues H‑1B disadvantages U.S. workers and cites examples including Microsoft layoffs after 2025 visa approvals, FedEx facility closures, Disney's 2015 layoffs, Southern California Edison’s 2014 outsourcing, and physician residency access claims.
- Hospitals and health systems that sponsor international medical graduates warn eliminating H‑1B could exacerbate staffing shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
- H‑1B traditionally offers 65,000 regular slots plus 20,000 for advanced degrees, with most beneficiaries from India and China, and recent federal changes added a $100,000 fee, wage‑weighted selection, and enhanced social‑media vetting.