Poll Reveals Majority Of Americans Don’t Want More H1-B Visas

A new survey reveals a striking majority of Americans oppose expanding the number of foreign workers entering the U.S. on H-1B visas to fill white-collar jobs, with most saying the country already has enough homegrown talent to meet the demand for skilled workers. The findings suggest widespread skepticism among voters about the long-standing program that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals, especially in fields like technology, engineering, and finance.

According to the Rasmussen Reports survey, 60% of Americans believe the U.S. has sufficient skilled labor to fill these positions, and they oppose increasing the number of foreign workers via the H-1B visa program. The poll specifically asked whether Congress should expand the inflow of foreign workers to fill white-collar positions, and the overwhelming response was a resounding “no.”

In contrast, only 26% of Americans support increasing the number of foreign visa workers in white-collar sectors. This opposition is particularly strong among Republicans and swing voters, who are especially vocal about protecting American jobs and ensuring that U.S. workers are prioritized for these high-skilled roles.

The survey data reveals that opposition to H-1B visa expansion is bipartisan, with significant numbers from across the political spectrum agreeing that the U.S. already has enough domestic talent to meet labor market demands. Notably, 72% of Republicans and 63% of swing voters believe the U.S. can recruit and train talented workers domestically for white-collar jobs. Even a plurality of 47% of Democrats echo this sentiment, highlighting that the issue of foreign worker visas is not purely a partisan matter.

For years, critics have pointed to the potential downsides of the H-1B visa program, especially in how it has affected American workers. The survey results reflect growing frustration with what many see as the displacement of U.S. workers in favor of cheaper foreign labor, particularly in the tech and engineering sectors.

Reports of fraud and abuse in the system, including instances where American workers were laid off and forced to train their foreign replacements, have fueled these concerns. Most of the foreign workers entering the U.S. under the H-1B program come from countries like India and China, further sparking debate about whether the U.S. should be importing so much foreign talent when millions of Americans are looking for work.

The problem is particularly acute in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), where each year, hundreds of thousands of American college graduates enter the workforce looking for high-paying, skilled jobs. These new graduates are often forced to compete with a steady influx of foreign workers who are willing to accept lower wages, thereby reducing the earning potential and job prospects of homegrown talent.

Annually, about half a million American college graduates enter the STEM workforce, eager to start their careers and secure positions that offer competitive salaries and benefits. But these new graduates face an uphill battle due to employers’ preferences for foreign H-1B visa holders that can legally be paid less and are bound to the company. This competition often makes it harder for young Americans to secure entry-level jobs in these fields, and the sheer volume of foreign workers in the job market exacerbates the problem.

The debate over the H-1B visa program gained significant attention during President Donald Trump’s administration, which sought to curb abuses within the program. In 2017, the Trump administration tightened rules to ensure that companies were not replacing qualified American workers with cheaper foreign labor. Trump’s focus on “Buy American, Hire American” policies was designed to protect U.S. workers, especially in technology.

However, these reforms were largely reversed under the Biden administration, which has since opened the door for companies to more easily hire foreign workers through the H-1B program. Critics of Biden’s approach argue that his administration’s rollback of these protections undermines efforts to prioritize American workers and curtails the opportunities available to domestic job seekers under an already abysmal job market.

The Rasmussen survey also reflects broader concerns about the state of immigration and labor policies in the U.S. With the U.S. labor market already facing challenges, such as rising inflation and job insecurity, many Americans are questioning the wisdom of importing more foreign workers when so many U.S. citizens are struggling to find decent-paying jobs. In particular, Republicans and independents are more likely to see the issue of foreign workers in zero-sum terms, fearing that the more foreign workers that are brought in, the fewer opportunities will be available to American workers.

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