US lawmaker introduces bill to eliminate H-1B visa programme by 2027 — What is the EXILE Act?

A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill in the US Congress that would bring the H-1B visa programme to an end by 2027. The proposed law is titled the Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions Act or the EXILE Act. It was introduced in the House of Representatives by Florida Congressman Greg Steube. If enacted, it would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce the annual H-1B visa cap to zero starting in fiscal year 2027.The H-1B programme allows American employers to hire foreign workers for specialised roles that require technical expertise or advanced degrees. It is commonly used by companies in sectors such as technology, engineering, healthcare and scientific research and includes a large number of Indian and Chinese workers. Democrats and progressives say it helps firms fill talent shortages and stay competitive, while the MAGA ‘America First’ base argues it is used to replace US workers with lower-paid foreign labour.Steube said the visa system has harmed American workers. “Prioritising foreign labour over the well-being and prosperity of American citizens undermines our values and national interests,” he said in a statement. He claimed that young professionals in particular have been “displaced and disenfranchised” by the H-1B programme. “We cannot preserve the American dream for our children while forfeiting their share to non-citizens,” he added.

What is the EXILE Act?

According to the bill’s text, the proposed changes would target Section 214(g)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which governs the H-1B visa cap. Under the EXILE Act, employers would no longer be able to file petitions for H-1B workers once the cap is eliminated.Steube’s office has also shown data showing that more than 80 per cent of H-1B visas are issued to nationals of India and China, with most recipients working in information technology and related fields.The proposal comes as immigration policy remains a key issue in Washington. In recent years, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made changes to how H-1B visas are processed, including steps to prioritise higher-paid and higher-skilled applicants, along with stricter review measures by the State Department. This was made possible under US President Donald Trump’s second term which further enabled tougher stance on the visa programme. The bill must still clear committee review and gain approval in both the House and the Senate before it can become law.Steube is not the only politician who is keen on ending the H1-B programme. Former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was also a loyal Trump ally, has also called for the end of the visa system. Meanwhile, businessmen, including Ex-DOGE leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, have defended the H1-B visa saying it brings the best of the best froma round the world into the world’s biggest economy.