Congressional Leaders, Including Ami Bera, Urge Trump To Reconsider H-1B Restrictions
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta, joined by Congressmen Ami Bera, Salud Carbajal, Derek Tran, and Congresswoman Julie Johnson, has written to President Donald Trump, urging him to reverse his September 19 Proclamation limiting H-1B visas. The lawmakers warned that the move could harm the India-U.S. relationship and weaken America’s competitive edge in technology and innovation.
Representative Ami Bera, one of the most senior Indian American members of Congress and a longtime advocate for stronger U.S.–India ties, emphasized the crucial role H-1B professionals play in sustaining the U.S. technology sector. “Our economy thrives on global talent and innovation,” Bera noted, adding that restrictive visa policies risk “undermining both American leadership and our partnership with India.”
Panetta echoed similar concerns, calling the H-1B program “vital for maintaining America’s lead in technological innovation, especially amid the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.” He pointed out that nearly 75 percent of current H-1B recipients come from India, and urged the administration to expand, not shrink, the program to ensure continued growth in high-tech industries.
The bipartisan group highlighted that many of America’s most successful companies were founded or led by former H-1B holders, who continue to drive entrepreneurship and job creation. They argued that limiting visas would hurt local economies, especially districts with strong Indian American and immigrant communities that contribute significantly to civic and economic life.
Their appeal follows Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s recent move to bar H-1B hiring at state universities, and new Department of Homeland Security guidance adjusting application fee rules. Despite such measures, the White House reaffirmed that President Trump’s priority remains “putting American workers first,” even as legal challenges from business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, proceed. (IANS)
