Allegations that US Graduates Are Losing Jobs Due to the Hiring of Foreign Workers

US Congressman Riley Moore has alleged that American computer science graduates are losing their jobs because companies are hiring foreign workers willing to work for lower wages. He claims that H-1B visa holders are effectively replacing local graduates.

Sharing a clip of a television interview on the social media platform X, Moore described the H-1B and Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs as a "scandal." He argued that these programs are being used to bring in low-cost foreign labor, thereby undermining the rights of American workers.

He wrote, "The H-1B and OPT programs are a scandal; they are used to bring in cheap foreign labor, displacing American workers and taking their places."

He further added, "While 650,000 Americans have graduated with degrees in computer science or related fields, 500,000 H-1B visa holders—most of whom are from China and India—have been brought in to take those roles."

In an interview with Scott Jennings on 'The Scott Jennings Show' (broadcast on Salem News), Moore stated, "Last year, about 650,000 young people in our country completed degrees in computer science or computer programming, yet we issued over 500,000 H-1B visas."

He remarked, "It is truly unbelievable. At the end of the day, these foreign workers are willing to accept lower pay, and because of the desire for cheap labor, our own young people are losing their jobs."

Criticizing the H-1B visa program, Moore noted that instead of functioning as intended, it has effectively become a mechanism for importing cheap labor.

He explained, "The original purpose of the H-1B visa program was to bring the 'best and brightest' to the United States to fill positions for which no local workers could be found." In reality, however, none of this is working as intended.

In fact, it serves as a mechanism to import cheap labor at a low cost, which limits opportunities for our own young college graduates—those who have recently completed their studies in fields like accounting, computer science, or similar disciplines and are preparing to enter the workforce.

The Congress member further claimed that H-1B visa holders often bring their family members to the United States, creating a form of "chain migration." He noted, "Typically, an H-1B visa holder brings along about 10 family members. Consequently, this gives rise to the entire issue of chain migration."

Are restrictions tightening for H-1B visa holders?

Previously, an Indian media outlet reported that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule. If implemented, this proposal could lead to significant changes in the review process for extending temporary work visas—such as H-1B and L-1 visas—a prospect that has sparked concern among Indian immigrants.

Under this proposed rule, immigration officials would have the authority to re-examine or reconsider an applicant's eligibility, even if a previous application under identical circumstances had already been approved.

The proposal has not yet been implemented, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has invited public comment on the draft regulation. According to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Indian nationals accounted for approximately 70 percent of all H-1B visa beneficiaries in the 2025 fiscal year.