Miami, Florida, USA: American entrepreneur James Fishback has strongly criticised the H-1B visa program, describing it as a system that exploits both U.S. and foreign professionals. He urged a total halt on immigration, claiming the United States already has a rich pool of skilled individuals being ignored by corporations seeking inexpensive overseas workers.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on October 26, Fishback argued that recruiting “cheap labour” from India harms qualified American professionals by depriving them of fair employment opportunities. He claimed that such hiring practices also exploit foreign workers, who indirectly contribute to the economic marginalisation of U.S. citizens.
What Did Fishback Call the ‘H-1B Visa Scam’?
Fishback alleged that several American companies misuse the visa system under the pretext that they “can’t find Americans for these jobs.” According to him, this justification is false, as many employers deliberately avoid hiring local talent.
He explained that companies often conceal job openings or publish them in hard-to-find newspapers to appear compliant with regulations. “They don’t even try to hire Americans,” Fishback wrote. “When no one applies, they use that as an excuse to bring in another foreign worker—robbing an American citizen of a job, fair pay, and dignity. It’s time to dismantle the H-1B scam completely.”
His comments follow recent immigration policy changes under the Trump administration, which increased the H-1B visa application fee to $1,00,000. Each year, about 65,000 visas are issued under the program, mainly for specialised roles in the tech industry. Indian professionals account for over 70% of approved H-1B visas in fiscal year 2024.
Fishback Says Indian Workers Are Also Exploited
In an accompanying video, Fishback emphasised that replacing qualified Americans with cheaper foreign labour is a lose-lose situation. “Companies gain nothing by doing this. The Americans who deserve these jobs lose income and purpose, and the imported workers from India end up exploited,” he said.
He further remarked, “Indians and Chinese workers might believe they’re better off, but they’re also being taken advantage of. I have no sympathy for them because they knowingly participate in a system that sidelines American citizens in their own country.”
Fishback Rejects Legal Immigration Too
Responding to questions about whether he supports legal immigration, Fishback stated that he does not. Instead, he advocates for a complete immigration moratorium, asserting that America’s strength lies in its existing citizens.
“I often hear people say, ‘You support legal immigration that helps America, right?’ It sounds noble and patriotic, but the truth is—I don’t,” he said. “What makes this nation great isn’t who we import, but who we already have. The U.S. is full of talented, hardworking individuals who remain underpaid, underemployed, and overlooked. They deserve the chance to contribute to their country.
So-called American companies say they have no choice but to use the H-1B program because they “can’t find Americans for these jobs.”
— James Fishback (@j_fishback) October 26, 2025
Here’s the ugly truth: they’re not even looking for Americans. They refuse to interview them. They hide job postings in obscure newspapers to… pic.twitter.com/N1IRfh3lz7
