New legislation targets the cheap labor pipeline

This week, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced H.R. 8443, the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, which would eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program and make significant improvements to the H-1B visa program. 

Immigration Accountability Project Cofounder Rosemary Jenks issued the following statement:

"This is the strongest H-1B bill that has ever been introduced in Congress. H-1B visas were sold to the American people as a short-term visa to fill temporary labor gaps while Americans are trained to take those jobs. This bill makes that a reality by reducing the caps and significantly raising the costs, ending OPT, prohibiting adjustment of status, and banning third-party employment, all after a three year pause on the issuance of any H-1B visas. The Immigration Accountability Project is grateful to Congressman Crane for putting the interests of American workers first with this bill."

The legislation would:

• Pause the H-1B program for three years and require all current H-1B visa holders to leave the United States within that period, thus opening up those jobs for American workers;
• End the OPT program, which allows foreign nationals who graduate from a U.S. university or college with a degree in a STEM field to stay and work in the United States; and
• Make importing H-1B workers more expensive than hiring Americans and prohibiting the federal government from employing them.

You can see the bill’s full details, including a list of reforms made to the H-1B program and the current cosponsors, at IAPAction.com.

DHS Funding Update

Yesterday, the Senate passed a budget resolution aimed at starting the budget reconciliation process to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). When combined with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill passed by the Senate a few weeks ago, DHS would be fully funded. The House is expected to vote on the resolution next week.

Earlier this week, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that the agency would run out of emergency funding to continue paying staff by May. 

A New Leader Emerges in the House in the Congressional Immigration Rankings

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) has taken the top spot in the updated IAP Action Congressional Immigration Rankings. Rep. Gill has held the No. 2 spot since March, but surpassed the longtime leader, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), after cosponsoring Rep. Crane’s H.R. 8443, the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act. H.R. 8443 is rated as Key Legislation by IAP Action.

Rep. Biggs dropped to the No. 2 spot, but still holds a significant lead over the third spot.

Rep. Julie Letlow (R-LA) also drew attention this week by jumping up 23 spots in the House rankings. Rep. Letlow cosponsored H.R. 569, the Birthright Citizenship Act, which would end the automatic granting of citizenship to the children of illegal aliens and foreign visitors in the United States. Rep. Letlow now ranks 85th overall in the House.

Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) had the biggest slide this week, dropping 17 spots to No. 354 in the House. Rep. Jackson cosponsored H.R. 4696, the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, which would grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. The bill is rated as Key (bad) Legislation by IAP Action.

You can view the full Immigration Rankings at IAPAction.com.

Immigration Articles

Breitbart: Exclusive: House Republican Bill Would Pause H-1B Visas, Make Dramatic Changes to the Program

Read Breitbart’s exclusive story on Rep. Eli Crane’s End H-1B Visa Abuse Act.

ICE: ICE Houston arrests 277 illegal aliens in just 2 weeks, including child predators, murderers, drug traffickers, foreign fugitives, gang bangers

ICE continues to sweep the country and remove criminal aliens from our streets, with a significant operation that included assistance from State and local authorities in Texas. This is a direct contrast with Virginia, where ICE put out a press release pleading with Governor Spanberger not to release an illegal alien who is an accused sexual predator.

IAP-Approved Legislation in the News

In addition to the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act, read about two other bills introduced this week:

• Territorial Protection and Sovereignty (TPS) Act (Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA)) to end TPS
• MAMDANI Act (Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX)), to denaturalize and deport Marxists and Islamic fundamentalists

Next Week

Now that the Senate has passed the “skinny” budget resolution to fund ICE and Border Patrol operations, all eyes are on the House next week to see whether it passes the resolution or amends it.