• Source:JND
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In a fresh move underscoring its hardline stance on foreign work visas, Trump administration has released a new video alleging that the misuse of H-1B visas has “stolen the American dream” from US citizens. The 52-second video, posted by the US Department of Labor on Thursday, prominently mentions India, which accounts for the largest share of H-1B visa holders at 72 per cent.

“For generations, we’ve told Americans that if they work hard enough, they can achieve the American dream. But many Americans have had this dream stolen from them. Their jobs were replaced by foreign workers,” the video’s voiceover declares. It accuses companies of abusing the H-1B visa system while politicians and bureaucrats “looked the other way.”

The video, featuring a pie chart of countries with the most H-1B visa workers, shows India leading by a wide margin, followed by China at 12 per cent. The Department of Labor also cited data showing that the median salary for H-1B visa holders in computer-related jobs was around USD 123,000, higher than that of many American workers in similar roles.

‘Project Firewall’ To Hold Employers Accountable

The video introduces Project Firewall, a Trump administration initiative aimed at “recapturing the American dream for the American people.” Under this project, the Department of Labor will investigate companies suspected of abusing the visa programme and ensure that US employers prioritise qualified American workers.

The initiative seeks to “safeguard the rights, wages, and opportunities” of American professionals while enforcing compliance through inter-agency coordination. “We are taking strong action to hold companies accountable for H-1B abuse,” the video states, portraying President Trump as restoring fairness in the job market.

Fee Hike And Broader Crackdown

The new campaign follows a series of recent measures tightening the H-1B visa system. In September, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions, a move that sparked widespread concern among tech professionals, particularly from India. The White House later clarified that the amount was a one-time payment, not an annual fee.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, India remained the largest contributor to the US’s non-immigrant workforce in 2024, accounting for 33 per cent of the total. Several state administrations, including Florida, have also announced restrictions on hiring foreign workers under the H-1B category.

India’s Prominent Role In H-1B Programme

The H-1B visa programme, introduced in 1990, allows US firms to employ skilled foreign workers in specialised fields such as information technology, medicine, and engineering. Each year, around 85,000 new visas are issued, 65,000 under the general category and 20,000 for advanced degree holders.

ALSO READ: H-1B Visa Shakeup: Will Walmart, TCS, And Cognizant Continue Hiring Tech Talent In 2025?

Indians have consistently dominated the programme, representing nearly three-quarters of all H-1B visa recipients in recent years. Major tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon rely heavily on Indian professionals for key technical roles.

ALSO READ: 'H-1B System Spammed With Fraud': What White House Says On Lawsuits Challenging Trump's Visa Hike | WATCH

However, the Trump administration has maintained that stricter controls are essential to ensure that American workers are not displaced. “Through Project Firewall, we are restoring fairness in hiring and protecting American jobs,” the Department of Labor concluded in its statement.

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