NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, D.C., Sept. 20, 2025: The Trump administration on Friday unveiled a sweeping new crackdown on the H-1B visa program, pledging to curb what it called years of abuse by employers and to ensure “Americans first” in high-skilled hiring.
The U.S. Department of Labor rolled out Project Firewall, an enforcement initiative authorizing Secretary-certified investigations of H-1B employers. In coordination with the Justice Department, EEOC, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the campaign threatens violators with penalties ranging from back-pay orders and civil fines to debarment from the visa system.
At the same time, the White House issued a presidential proclamation that stunned the technology industry: beginning Sept. 21 at 12:01 a.m., companies bringing H-1B workers into the United States must pay a $100,000 per-petition fee. The measure applies to workers outside the country seeking to enter, as well as to those traveling abroad who attempt to return. Current H-1B holders already inside the U.S. are unaffected unless they leave and re-enter.
“The days of employers abusing H-1B visas are over,” the proclamation declared. “Project Firewall will ensure high-skilled jobs go to Americans first.”
The announcement triggered immediate alarm in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street, where H-1B visas have been a backbone of hiring global talent. Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and JPMorgan Chase issued urgent guidance to their employees.
Amazon and Meta urged staff abroad on H-1B or H-4 visas to return before the rule takes effect, with some notices warning workers to get back “within 24 hours if possible.” Microsoft issued a 24-hour deadline to Indian and other foreign employees outside the U.S., strongly recommending they fly back before Sept. 21. JPMorgan Chase relayed similar instructions, warning that those stuck abroad after the deadline could face crippling re-entry costs.
Immigration attorneys said they were flooded with calls from anxious employees and employers. “It’s chaos right now,” said one Atlanta-based lawyer. “Flights are being rebooked, vacations cut short, and companies are scrambling to figure out who can get back in before the deadline.”
Trump administration officials defended the move as a way to force companies to hire Americans. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters that employers must now decide “whether that worker is valuable enough to justify a $100,000 payment — or whether they should hire an American instead.”
Industry groups warned of devastating consequences, arguing that the measure could drive away top global talent and disrupt multinational projects. Legal challenges are expected in the coming days.
The days of employers abusing H-1B Visas are over.
— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) September 19, 2025
Introducing PROJECT FIREWALL—our plan to ensure high-skilled jobs go to AMERICANS FIRST 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XPwBJSZfto
