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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the Trump administration has approved 120,141 H-1B visa applications for fiscal year 2026, marking a decrease from the 135,137 approvals in FY 2025 and 188,400 in FY 2024.
This reduction coincides with a 27% drop in eligible registrations, from 470,342 in FY 2025 to 343,981 in FY 2026. Factors contributing to this decline include increased application fees and a shift to a beneficiary-centric selection process.
The announcement has sparked debate within political circles. Figures like Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer have criticized the approvals, arguing that they threaten American jobs, especially amid recent tech industry layoffs. Conversely, proponents such as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy advocate for the H-1B program, claiming and emphasizing its role in attracting global talent essential for U.S. competitiveness.
Despite the overall decrease, Indian nationals continue to represent the majority of H-1B recipients. In previous years, they accounted for over 70% of approved applications, a trend that appears to persist. This dominance is attributed to India’s robust IT sector and the strong presence of Indian professionals in U.S. technology firms.
US workers are being replaced.
120,000 H-1B Visas have been approved for 2026.
Not good!
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) May 16, 2025
The H-1B program remains a focal point of immigration policy discussions. Supporters argue that it addresses skill shortages and fosters innovation, while critics express concerns about potential impacts on domestic employment and wage levels.
“No One Is Talking About The 120k H-1B Visas Approved For 2026” Kevin Lynn Debunks Lie That AI Is Stealing Jobs Rather Than Foreign Labor @USTechWorkers pic.twitter.com/Rs0eXNrCkv
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) May 15, 2025
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