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6h ago

DeSantis Denounces H‑1B as ‘Total Scam’ as Trump Team Pushes Overhaul With Wage‑Based Selection and $5 Million ‘Gold Card’

Indians account for most H‑1B approvals, raising the stakes for students and tech workers in India.

“Often, people used to say, 'We're getting the cream of the crop from all around the world.' The reality is that's not actually what H1Bs are,” DeSantis argued.
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Overview

  • Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told Fox News the H‑1B program lets firms replace Americans with cheaper labor and said most beneficiaries are from India.
  • U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the H‑1B and green card systems “terrible” and said the administration is preparing changes, including a proposed $5 million investor residency “gold card.”
  • Reporting says a draft rule to end the H‑1B lottery in favor of wage‑based selection has been approved for rulemaking, though the policy is not final and could face changes.
  • USCIS data for FY2025 lists Amazon, TCS, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google among top H‑1B beneficiaries, with multiple outlets noting Indians receive roughly 70–75% of approvals.
  • Industry veteran Mohandas Pai said Indian IT firms rely less on H‑1Bs than in the past, as coverage also notes proposed limits on student and exchange visa durations under broader immigration tightening.