US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday defended the Donald Trump administration’s tougher stance on H 1B visas, arguing that companies should not sidestep American workers in favour of lower-cost labour abroad.
Vance made the remarks while addressing AmericaFest, the annual convention organised by Turning Point USA, a conservative student group co-founded by activist Charlie Kirk.
Speaking about the broader role of governance, Vance said Christian politics should go beyond issues such as family values and the protection of the unborn, and must also shape how governments approach economic and labour policies.
Questioning corporate practices, he asked why companies that move American jobs overseas should face penalties. He answered that such action is necessary because work carries inherent dignity and people holding stable jobs in the United States deserve protection.
Turning specifically to immigration policy, Vance said the administration had acted to limit H 1B visas without waiting for Congress. He explained that the move was driven by the belief that it is unfair for firms to bypass domestic workers simply to cut costs by hiring labour from developing countries.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump introduced one of the strictest measures of his immigration agenda by announcing a 100,000 dollar fee for new H-1B visa applications.
The H 1B programme is heavily used by the US technology industry to recruit skilled professionals from overseas, with India supplying the largest share of such workers.
Separately, reports have said that Google and Apple have advised some employees on US work visas to avoid traveling abroad because of visa stamping delays that can stretch up to a year. Immigration lawyers have warned that new social media screening rules have slowed processing, increasing the risk of workers being stuck outside the country if appointments are postponed.
