US launches new ad campaign spotlighting H-1B visa misuse, names India among key offenders
The Trump administration revives its “America First” jobs agenda with a new campaign linking H-1B misuse to the loss of opportunities for young Americans.
US, Oct 31 : The US Department of Labour under the Trump administration has launched a new ad campaign accusing companies of misusing the H-1B visa programme to replace young American workers with foreign hires — explicitly highlighting India as the biggest beneficiary of the system.
In a post shared on X, the department declared: “Young Americans have had the American Dream stolen from them, as jobs have been replaced by foreign workers due to rampant abuse of the H-1B visa.”
It further stated: “Under the President of the United States and Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s leadership, we’re holding companies accountable for their abuse and recapturing the American Dream for the American people.”
The campaign accompanies the rollout of “Project Firewall,” a Labour Department initiative launched in September 2025 to audit H-1B visa compliance. The programme aims to curb the replacement of American workers with lower-paid foreign professionals, particularly in the tech and engineering sectors.
‘Recapturing the American Dream’
The 51-second video released with the post contrasts nostalgic 1950s imagery of prosperity with present-day job loss statistics. It claims that 72 percent of H-1B visa approvals go to Indian nationals, crediting President Trump and Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer for prioritising American jobs.
“For generations, we’ve told Americans that if they work hard enough, they can achieve the American Dream,” the narrator says. “But many young Americans have had this dream stolen from them.”
The video ends with the message: “Through Project Firewall, we’re taking action to hold companies accountable for H-1B abuse and ensure they prioritise Americans in the hiring process — recapturing the American Dream for the American people.”
Political message with economic overtones
The ad marks a clear revival of President Trump’s “America First” jobs agenda, with renewed emphasis on domestic hiring, visa audits, and labour market protectionism.
Labour Department officials said Project Firewall will carry out extensive audits of firms suspected of misusing H-1B visas to lower wages or displace US workers.
“Every job that belongs to an American should go to an American first,” a spokesperson said. “We’re not against legal immigration — we’re against its exploitation.”
India in focus
While the ad doesn’t directly name any country, the data and imagery make it evident that India, which accounts for nearly 70–75 percent of H-1B recipients, is central to the campaign’s message.
Most Indian professionals on H-1B visas work in technology and engineering roles, sectors that the Trump administration now aims to tighten regulations around through Project Firewall.
