Republican Rep. Greg Steube is calling for a full repeal of the H-1B visa program, arguing that it has been weaponized against American workers and used by corporations to replace domestic labor with cheaper foreign alternatives. In a post on social media, Steube said American workers should not be “treated as second-class citizens,” describing the visa program as an “America Last scheme” that benefits foreign labor over U.S. families.
Steube made the comments after appearing on The Big Take with host Ed Henry, where he promoted his newly introduced legislation known as the EXILE Act. The bill would eliminate the H-1B visa program entirely by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act.
During the interview, Steube said American companies routinely bring in workers from India and China while laying off U.S. employees who are fully capable of performing the same jobs. He argued that businesses exploit the visa system to lower labor costs, creating what he described as a pattern of displacement rather than a true skills shortage.
Steube also framed the issue as a national security concern, warning that foreign workers brought in under the program could take sensitive technical knowledge back to their home countries. He pointed specifically to China, which he described as the top national security threat to the United States, and said he does not want American intellectual property transferred overseas through the visa system.
American workers shouldn't be treated as second-class citizens. The H-1B visa is an America Last scheme that prioritizes foreign labor over working families. It's time to pass my EXILE Act and end the H-1B visa forever. pic.twitter.com/uWVednaMv9
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) February 18, 2026
The EXILE Act, formally introduced as H.R. 7451, would phase out the H-1B program by setting future visa allocations to zero beginning in fiscal year 2027. According to Steube’s office, more than 80 percent of H-1B recipients currently come from India or China, with priority often given to younger workers.
In a press release announcing the bill, Steube said the visa program has harmed American workers across multiple industries, including technology, medicine, and logistics. He pointed to past cases where companies laid off thousands of U.S. employees after securing large numbers of H-1B visas, allowing them to replace domestic workers with foreign labor at lower wages.
Steube argued that the program no longer serves its original purpose of filling genuine labor shortages and instead functions as a corporate outsourcing tool. He said his legislation is intended to “put working Americans first again” by ending what he views as an exploitative system that rewards multinational companies while weakening U.S. job security.
The H-1B visa program was sold as a way to fill skill gaps.
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) February 11, 2026
It has become a tool to replace Americans.
My bill, the EXILE Act, ends it.
American jobs should go to American workers. Period.
The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and has not yet advanced beyond the introduction stage. No cosponsors have been announced as of Tuesday, and the text of the legislation has not yet been formally published by the Government Publishing Office.
