Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday night urged college students at a University of Georgia Turning Point USA event to pressure Republican Senate candidates to back legislation eliminating the H-1B visa program, which he argued undermines job opportunities for American graduates by allowing big technology companies to exploit the system.
During his speech, Vance challenged students: “Every single one of you should ask those Senate candidates, What do you think about the H-1B visa? Would you co-sponsor the vice president’s and former senator’s legislation to eliminate that program because it’s basically just something that big tech companies take advantage of?”
He emphasized his vision for graduates: “When you guys graduate from this university, I don’t want you competing against a low-wage foreigner for your first job. I want a company to have to pay you a fair wage for a fair day’s work.”
Vance, who previously introduced H-1B visa reform legislation in the Senate, noted that while broader support for such measures has grown since his initial efforts a decade ago, significant legislative progress remains elusive. He stressed that lasting change requires Congress to codify reforms rather than relying on White House administrative actions.
The remarks underscore an ongoing rift within the Trump administration and the Republican coalition over high-skilled immigration policies. Business groups and many tech industry stakeholders maintain that the H-1B program is critical for filling specialized roles, while Trump-aligned populists have increasingly framed it as a mechanism for companies to depress wages and sideline American workers.
Recent college graduates face heightened competition in white-collar sectors, especially technology, where hiring has slowed after years of rapid growth. Critics argue the program intensifies entry-level job competition, whereas supporters assert it addresses talent shortages and keeps skilled jobs within the United States.
