The Republican leader accused employers of using them to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor. Photo: @RepRileyMoore
US Congressman Riley Moore calls H-1B, OPT programmes ‘scams’
The Republican lawmaker claims H-1B visa holders are displacing American computer science graduates
US Congressman Riley Moore has alleged that H-1B visa holders are taking jobs meant for American computer science graduates, claiming companies are hiring foreign workers because they are willing to work for lower wages.-
In a post on X, the Republican leader described the H-1B visa and Optional Practical Training (OPT) programmes as “SCAMS”, accusing employers of using them to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour.
“H-1B and OPT programs are SCAMS that undercut and replace American workers with cheap foreign labor,” he wrote.
Moore claimed that the number of foreign workers entering the US under the H-1B programme was comparable to the number of Americans graduating with computer science-related degrees.
“650k Americans graduated with computer science-related degrees, but they’re being replaced by the 500k H1B visa holders who are mostly from China and India,” he added.
Cites graduate numbers to support claim
During an interview on the Salem News Channel (SNC), Moore said around 650,000 Americans had completed degrees related to computer science and programming last year, while more than half a million H-1B visas had been issued.
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“We had about 650,000 kids, give or take, graduate with computer science, computer programming degrees in this country last year, and then issued over half a million H-1B visas,” Moore said as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
“I mean, it's crazy. And at the end of the day, they're willing to do these jobs at a lower rate, cheaper labor, and so all of our kids are getting replaced in this,” he alleged.
Disputes programme's stated purpose
Moore also disputed the stated purpose of the H-1B programme, which is presented as a route for employers to recruit highly skilled workers for positions they cannot fill domestically.
Also Read: US mulls new H-1B, OPT fees, likely to raise costs for foreign students, professionals
“Sold on H-1B visa program is that we're going to bring the best and the brightest talent in the United States to fill these jobs that we're not able to fill. That is not how this has worked at all,” he said.
“What it is, is importing cheap labor that is undercutting a lot of our young college graduates who are coming out of school with accounting degrees and other types of degrees, computer science, things like that, that are ready to enter the workforce.”
Raises family migration concerns
He also linked the programme to family migration, claiming visa holders bring relatives with them to the US.
“And the typical H-1B visa holder, by the way, brings 10 individuals of their family with them. So you have this whole chain migration thing that goes with it,” he said.
Proposed visa rule change raises concerns
The remarks come as the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) considers a separate regulatory change affecting extensions of temporary work visas, including H-1B and L-1 visas. The proposal has raised concerns among Indian immigrants.
Also Read: ‘End H-1B Visa Abuse Act’: Republican lawmakers seek 3-year suspension, tougher rules
According to USCIS data, Indian nationals accounted for roughly 70% of H-1B beneficiaries in fiscal year 2025.
Under the proposed rule, immigration officers could reassess an applicant's eligibility even if an earlier application had been approved under the same circumstances.