Trump's H-1B Visa Crackdown and Its Impact on American Workers' Wages

President Trump's $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions has significantly reduced the number of visas issued, leading to a 74% decrease in H-1B visa issuances and a 81% drop in visas for H-1B spouses and children. This crackdown is part of a broader tightening of legal and illegal entry, with border encounters falling to 8,900 in August 2026, a 96% decrease from the December 2023 record. Employers use the H-1B program to hire foreign workers for lower wages, suppressing American workers' wages. Indian nationals received 71% of the H-1B petitions approved in fiscal 2024, and 60% of H-1B positions were certified at lower wage levels in fiscal 2019. The Labor Department's March 2026 proposed rule found that 63% of certifications used the two lower wage levels, with offered wages averaging $10,191 less than the government's survey average for the same jobs.