The $100,000 fee that President Trump plans to implement for H-1B workers next year is considered a trivial expense by a CEO from a recruitment agency.
“That amount is hardly significant compared to the value these workers bring,” commented Shahriar Tajbakhsh, head of MetaviewAI, a company that focuses on automating job interviews. His firm also recruits Indian workers.
“Let’s make it happen in a day,” he added with a hint of sarcasm, suggesting setting up regular payments.
Hany Guirgis, chairman of SkillStorm, which trains Americans for jobs, disagreed, stating:
This illustrates how casually they regard the $100,000 visa fee. This is my message to American graduates. And people still question why there’s resistance.
Every year, employers utilize the H-1B program to bring in about 120,000 workers, largely for entry-level roles. Many young graduates in STEM fields seek these positions because employers often prefer them for their willingness to accept lower salaries, and they can be more easily supervised.
Trump, who enjoys backing from younger voters, seems to shift between supporting and criticizing the hiring of foreign labor in various industries.
For instance, in September, he pointed out that 2.5 million foreign workers, not immigrants, are in STEM roles that many Americans want. He then announced a $100,000 entry fee for some H-1B applicants by 2026.
Since then, his representatives have initiated an investigation into prevalent fraud in the H-1B sector, promising a thorough check of candidates’ online backgrounds. The Department of Homeland Security is also considering new rules aimed at reducing the number of low-skilled immigrants admitted each year.
However, these steps haven’t significantly altered the number of visa workers entering the U.S. labor market, although they have stirred discontent within an industry largely dominated by Indian workers.
For example, Sheila Murthy, a prominent immigration attorney, expressed strong opposition to Trump during a gathering of Indian-majority political groups in Seattle, suggesting they should “really kick his ass.”
Murthy, who is an Indian American immigration lawyer and the founder of ITServe, expressed these sentiments at that meeting.
Another speaker later clarified that while some views may differ, they do not reflect the organization’s stance, which supports efforts to curb illegal immigration and favor merit-based reforms.
ITServe has effectively lobbied both political parties for more Indian workers since the Obama administration. They are currently backing a proposal from Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) intended to significantly increase the intake of visa workers for jobs needed by U.S. graduates.
The organization is collaborating with both U.S. and Indian government entities to ensure a continuous flow of workers, focusing particularly on Indian states.
