Poll Indicates Growing Concern Over H-1B Visa Program
A recent September survey reveals that 56% of Americans believe the large H-1B visa program is affecting their job prospects by favoring white-collar immigrants.
Conducted anonymously among roughly 2,000 U.S. citizens and 2,200 foreign workers, the poll was shared on a platform popular among tech professionals, many of whom are immigrants themselves.
According to the findings, over half of those surveyed feel that H-1B visa holders are competitors for their roles. In fact, 60% of respondents assert that hiring should prioritize U.S. citizens and green card holders.
Kevin Lynn, who leads a group advocating for U.S. tech workers affected by this program, suggested that the actual percentage might be even higher. He mentioned that if American workers felt confident about not facing backlash for their opinions, they might report that number at over 70%.
Polling data implies that President Trump could bolster his support among white-collar professionals by enforcing existing civil rights and employment regulations in areas impacted by these ethnic hiring practices.
On September 19, Trump initiated action to restrict the H-1B visa program, a move that could keep around 730,000 foreign workers in U.S. white-collar jobs.
He emphasized the negative implications of the program’s misuse, citing it as a risk to both economic stability and national security. A report underlined that the number of foreign STEM workers in the U.S. had more than doubled from 2000 to 2019, while the overall employment growth in STEM fields was significantly lower. Specifically, the foreign component of the computer and math professions rose from 17.7% to 26.1% during this period.
Concerns have also been raised about national security, as law enforcement has identified firms reliant on H-1B workers that are involved in visa fraud and other illegal activities that facilitate foreign worker entry into the country.
Evidence suggests that certain ethnic employment networks are pushing U.S. graduates out of entry-level positions and hindering American professionals from advancing in their careers.
The anonymous platform illustrated stark differences in opinions: when asked if H-1B workers had a “significant but not irreplaceable” role in companies, only 49% of U.S. citizens agreed, compared to a much higher 87% of foreign-born experts.
It appears that migrant workers tend to overlook employment discrimination, as only 11% of H-1B visa holders and 35% of permanent residents felt businesses primarily hire Americans.
One American engineer from Microsoft commented that these visa programs should be expanded, so more graduates are encouraged to work in the U.S.
The survey, conducted from August 25 to September 3, included 4,230 verified professionals, comprising H-1B holders, green card recipients, and U.S. citizens.
