H-1B Visa Debate: MAGA Reacts to 120,000 Approvals for 2026

H-1B Visa Debate: MAGA Reacts to 120,000 Approvals for 2026

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the selection of 120,141 H-1B visa applications for 2026, marking the lowest number since 2021. This announcement ignited a fresh wave of debate, particularly among MAGA supporters.

Concerns Over Job Displacement

Some, like Laura Loomer, expressed concerns about potential job displacement, echoing sentiments that U.S. workers are being replaced. "US workers are being replaced. 120,000 H-1B visas have been approved for 2026. Not good," Loomer posted.

Division Among Advocates

The H-1B program has sparked division, pitting those who advocate for increasing the visa quota (such as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy) against those who call for stricter limitations (like Steve Bannon).

H-1B Numbers Explained

USCIS received 358,737 H-1B registrations, with 343,981 deemed eligible. This reflects a 27% decrease from the previous year. The H-1B program has an annual cap of 65,000 new visas, with an additional 20,000 reserved for those with U.S. master's degrees or higher.

Bannon's Stance

Steve Bannon has strongly criticized the number of approvals, stating that "the number of H-1Bs we need this year is ZERO" and advocating for American workers to fill those positions.

Industry Impact

Industries like technology, finance, and academia benefit significantly from the H-1B program, with companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and Tesla utilizing it to bring skilled workers to the U.S.