Republican Senator Eric Schmitt launched a new scathing attack on the H-1B visa program, highlighting reasons why the program requires serious reform as Americans have been lied to about the country’s immigration system.
Speaking to Ryan James Girdusky on his podcast, the lawmaker said the program has been sold to Americans as the ultimate pathway to bring in “some of the best talent in the world”.
“[Americans have been told] that the H-1B applicants are being brought in because there aren’t enough people present in the US to take up the kind of jobs that they do, that’s a lie,” Schmitt said.
‘Foreign workers are more compliant as they’re cheaper’
Schmitt remarked that massive layoffs by tech giants has fuelled the H-1B crisis in the US.
“When you see companies like Microsoft laying off thousands of workers and replacing them with H-1B applicants (foreign workers), the only difference is – foreign workers are more compliant. They are here as guests and can be sent away if they’re not compliant and they’re cheaper,” he said.
Americans have been lied to about how our legal immigration system works. The deck has been stacked against Americans for too long. It’s time for reform. pic.twitter.com/2qS5A7SSPr
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) January 17, 2026
‘H-1B program has been widely abused’
Schmitt said the program has been widely abused by the beneficiaries. He added that the OPT (Optional Practical Training) work authorisation for F-1 international students act as “visa mills”.
“US universities benefit because these students pay the full fee. They come in and then they’re able to work on that visa for a year or two…the employer doesn’t have to taxes but [this] displaces American students,” he added.
‘Americans have lost jobs in the name of globalism’
Schmitt said that he is “trying to move the debate along” as American nationals have lost jobs in the name of globalism. “Their jobs were sent to China, and when they started job hunting again, they were replaced by foreign workers undercutting their wages,” he added.
Schmitt to launch legislation against denaturalisation
Earlier this month, the lawmaker had said he would introduce legislation against denaturalisation. “If you come to our country, take our citizenship oath, and then proceed to commit fraud or other serious felonies, you don’t deserve to be an American. I’m introducing legislation to revoke their citizenship and send them home,” he wrote on X.