Bill to roll back Trump's H-1B restrictions introduced by Democrats
India Today
A bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives to reverse restrictions placed on the H-1B visa programme by the Trump Administration in the US. The WISA Act, if passed, would roll back some measures of Donald Trump's presidential proclamation, including the $100,000 sponsorship fee for new H-1B applicants.
An immigration bill has been introduced in the US House of Representatives that seeks to roll back some of the restrictions imposed on the H-1B visa programme during US President Donald Trump's second term in office. This comes amid a continued debate on how Washington DC should manage high-skilled immigration, including from India.
The legislation titled, Welcoming International Success Act (WISA) was introduced on Friday by Democratic Representative, Bonne Watson Coleman. If the Act is passed, it would nullify the September 2025 Presidential Proclamation by Donald Trump which had imposed rigid wage level requirements and a $100,000 sponsorship fee for new H-1B applicants.
The Presidential Proclamation in question is currently the subject of multiple lawsuits, including one from the US Chambers of Commerce, and a coalition of Democrat-ruled states led by California, which have called the action unconstitutional and detrimental to the quality of public services like education and healthcare in those states.
In a press release by the office of Coleman detailing the WISA Act, it argued that the H-1B programme encourages talented workers from abroad to work in industries in the United States that experience labour shortages, including technology, engineering, healthcare, and education.
"Trump's short-sighted proclamation has created significant barriers for U.S. employers, universities, hospitals, and research institutions that rely on highly-skilled professionals," said Coleman, according to the press release. "The H-1B program does not replace the domestic workforce; it serves as a bridge between U.S. talent and global talent that fuels U.S. economic growth."
According to Coleman, "A combination of an ageing workforce, Covid-related burnout, restrictions on H-1B visas, and the Trump Administration's recent limitations placed on federal student loans for nursing degrees has created a perfect storm for a nursing shortage in the coming years. The Welcoming International Success Act (WISA) would ease this burden as demand for qualified healthcare professionals increases."
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