Trump H-1B Fee Crackdown

19 Sept 2026

The H-1B fight has become a broader struggle over whether the United States will keep using skilled immigration to fill labor shortages or rework the visa into a sharply limited and expensive channel. Trump’s crackdown uses a six-figure fee, stricter wage rules, and tighter enforcement to raise the cost of hiring foreign professionals, especially in technology and research. Employers, universities, and lawmakers are now balancing access to global talent against pressure to protect U.S. wages and jobs. The stakes include where companies hire, how much work stays in the United States, and whether workers from India and other major sending countries retain meaningful access to the program.