US Senator Supports Trump’s H-1B Crackdown, Pushes Bills Prioritizing American Workers

Senator Cotton Backs Trump on H-1B Crackdown, Unveils Worker-First Legislation.

US Senator Tom Cotton on Friday voiced strong support for reforming the H-1B visa program, announcing plans to introduce two bills aimed at tightening oversight and prioritising American workers.

On X, Cotton wrote: “President Trump and @SecretaryLCD are absolutely right that the H-1B program needs reforms. Next week I’m introducing two bills that will bring badly needed changes to this program and put American workers first.”

Project Firewall: A New Enforcement Drive

Earlier this week, the Department of Labour launched Project Firewall, described as one of the most aggressive H-1B oversight efforts in history.

According to Secretary of Labour Chavez-DeRemer, the initiative will investigate employers for abuse of the visa process. “Launching Project Firewall will help us ensure no employers are abusing H-1B visas at the expense of our workforce,” she said.

Key elements of the reform include:

Proactive investigations – Labour Secretary to personally certify probes, moving beyond the complaint-driven model.

Fair wages – Employers must pay H-1B workers at least prevailing local wages or the same as US counterparts.

Equal treatment – H-1B workers must receive the same benefits as American employees.

Recruitment requirements – In certain cases, firms must show “good faith” efforts to hire Americans first.

Penalties – Violators may face fines, repayment of wages, or bans from the program.

Inter-agency cooperation – The Labour Department will coordinate with the DOJ, EEOC, and USCIS to tackle fraud and discrimination.

India’s Cautious Response

India, whose citizens make up the majority of H-1B visa holders, has reacted cautiously to the shift. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed the need for a global workforce to meet worldwide demand.

“Where that global workforce is to be housed and located may be a matter of political debate. But there’s no getting away from the fact that demand cannot be met in many countries purely out of national demographics,” Jaishankar said.

He urged the development of a more “contemporary and efficient model of a global workforce,” warning that immigration restrictions, rising tariffs, and protectionist policies could complicate trade and talent flows.