The announcement of the H-1b visa selections for 2026 has led to a major row among US tech workersas the USCIS revealed that the Trump administration has selected 120, 141 H-1B visa applications for 2026. This number is the lowest compared to the figures since 2021 but US tech workers demand that the Donald Trump administration should end H-1B visa programs.After Trump aide Laura Loomer and former aide Steve Bannon expressed their strong opposition to H-1B after the release of the fresh numbers, a post by X handle US tech workers has gone viral.The post shares screenshots of a Reddit conversation where an India-origin person is offering tips about moving to the USA. The Reddit user in conversation with other users revealed that he/she got sponsored directly from India. “I was working at an MNC there and applied to a few eols the US that were open to international candidates. Eventually landed one that was willing to sponsor my H1B,” the user said.Reacting to the conversation, a popular X handle, US Tech Workers posted: “Americans are getting laid off and struggling to find work. New grads can’t catch a break. Meanwhile, foreign workers are being hired directly from overseas, sponsored for H-1B visas, and openly sharing tips on how to game the system,” it said.
The Reddit post that got the attention of US tech workers amid fresh H-1B row
“We need to apply heavy tariffs to all visa workers,” one user commented. “US politicians love India, it’s given a preferred status because Washington hope india will contain China rise,” another wrote. “So many Franchise restaurants in Pittsburgh area are staffed with Indians only. Which visa are these people on? And they are all from Hyderabad, India,” one comment said. Some people came in the defend of the Reddit user and said that the person must have worked hard, good work experience and it can’t be called “hacking the system”.
What is the fresh H-1B row?
H-1B visa program allows US companies to hire skilled workers from foreign countries. A major row started over it last year during Christmas as Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy spoke in favor of extending H-1B programs. MAGA supporters condemned it they said American workers are getting replaced and President Trump should stop it. The new row started with the release of the USCIS figures.