The latest H-1B visa numbers are in, and the results are raising eyebrows. Despite mass tech layoffs and growing frustration among American workers, the Trump administration has allowed 120,141 new H-1B visas for fiscal year 2026. The decision comes after months of heated debate over whether foreign hiring is displacing U.S. workers at a time when the tech industry is shedding jobs.
Demand for H-1B visas remains shockingly high, even as major companies slash their workforce. The approval numbers suggest that corporations are still prioritizing foreign labor, despite thousands of unemployed American tech professionals looking for work. Critics argue that this is proof of systemic replacement, where companies opt for lower-cost foreign workers instead of hiring domestically.
The sharp drop in H-1B registrations is another key development. The decline is the result of Biden-era reforms that cracked down on multiple filings and lottery fraud. Under previous rules, companies could submit multiple applications for the same worker, increasing their chances of selection. The new system ensures one registration per beneficiary, effectively eliminating widespread abuse.
While the reforms have cleaned up the lottery process, they haven’t stopped the steady influx of foreign workers. The numbers show that despite efforts to curb fraud, the overall approval rate remains high, fueling concerns that American workers are being pushed out of the job market.
The political fallout is unavoidable. Many voters expected the Trump administration to rein in foreign hiring, especially after the Christmas H-1B uproar, when reports surfaced of companies prioritizing visa holders over laid-off American employees. Instead, the administration has taken a hands-off approach, allowing the visa program to continue at full speed.
Sources:
https://galevisa.com/blog/post/trump-h1b-visa-policy-2025
https://www.newsweek.com/h1b-visa-lottery-opening-date-announced-uscis-donald-trump-2027569
https://www.adamsandreese.com/insights/trump-musk-and-the-future-of-the-h-1b-visa
