Greg Steube Introduces EXILE Act to Eliminate H-1B Visas

U.S. Representative Greg Steube introduced the Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions (EXILE) Act to completely eliminate the H-1B visa program. The legislation proposes amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to set the annual visa cap to zero starting in fiscal year 2027, which would prevent companies from submitting new petitions.

Steube argues that corporations abuse the system to import cheaper foreign labor, which suppresses wages and displaces American citizens. To support these claims, he cited the displacement of 16,000 Microsoft employees in 2025, the loss of residency spots for 10,000 U.S. physicians, and layoffs at Disney, FedEx, and Southern California Edison. Because Indian and Chinese nationals comprise over 80% of H-1B recipients, the act would primarily impact professionals from those countries.

This legislative push aligns with a broader crackdown on legal immigration under President Donald Trump. Recent administration actions include a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas and the implementation of a wage-weighted selection system. Additionally, the United States Department of State began enhanced social media screening and background checks for H-1B and H-4 applicants on December 15, 2025, causing significant interview delays in India. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott ordered an immediate freeze on new H-1B petitions at state agencies and public universities.

The EXILE Act follows similar prior efforts by former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. To become law, the bill must clear committee review and gain approval from both the House and the Senate.