A group of House Republicans led by Arizona representative Eli Crane has introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, a bill that would pause the issuance of new H-1B visas for three years before reopening the program under much tighter rules.
Crane’s office said the measure was introduced on April 22 and is aimed at reforming what supporters call a broken system.
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Freeze first, reform later?
The proposal goes well beyond a temporary freeze. It would reduce the annual H-1B cap from 65,000 to 25,000. It aims to eliminate existing exemptions, replace the lottery with a wage-based selection system, and require employers to certify that they cannot find a qualified American worker and have not conducted layoffs.
It would also set a minimum H-1B wage of $200,000 a year, bar dependents from accompanying visa holders, prohibit third-party staffing agencies from employing H-1B workers, end optional practical training, block H-1B holders from adjusting to permanent residency from within the US, and require nonimmigrants to leave the country before changing visa status.
3-Year #H1B Freeze Proposed
— M9 USA🇺🇸 (@M9USA_) April 22, 2026
New bill by @RepEliCrane introduced Wednesday and co-sponsored by several House Republicans, proposes a 3-year pause on #H1Bvisas to overhaul the system.
The plan would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, end OPT, H-4 work permits, and green…
Government should work for citizens, not corporations
In announcing the bill, Crane said, “The federal government should work for hardworking citizens, not the profit margins of massive corporations.” His office also quoted co-sponsor Brandon Gill saying the immigration system should “serve American workers first before foreigners.”
Rosemary Jenks of the Immigration Accountability Project described it as “the strongest H-1B bill that has ever been introduced in Congress,” arguing that the program was meant to fill temporary labor gaps.
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US just dropped a bomb on lakhs of Indian dreams. A new bill has been proposed.
— Nalini Unagar (@NalinisKitchen) April 27, 2026
In this bill, Republicans are suggesting a pause on H1B visas for 3 years. They also want to reduce the number of visas from 65,000 to 25,000 and remove benefits like bringing family, doing OPT, and…
Indian professionals could feel heat
The proposal is being closely followed in India as Indian professionals account for a large share of H-1B recipients, especially in technology and related sectors.
The measure could make the program harder to access for skilled foreign workers and less attractive for their families. The bill’s backers argue it would prioritize US workers, while its critics are likely to see it as one of the most aggressive attempts yet to reshape employment-based immigration.
