“Someone made a point about unfair low pay to the imports, and raising that pay would certainly make the employers think twice about who they hire.”
H1-Bs agree to work for a much reduced rate simply to get a foothold in the United States. They aren’t allowed to change firms so that also gives employers leverage to keep their wages low, which has the complimentary effect of reducing the wages of Americans.
But once their H1-B term is up they don’t go home any more than any other foreign national does, they just become part of an educated illegal alien class competing with Americans for jobs. A situation that warms the heart of libertarian ideologues and other non-patriots.
If I remember correctly, they are supposed to go home and reapply for citizenship. Of course if you live in India, the travel is expensive, but if the employers really valued them then they would pay the airfare. Time to lean on the employers. Like the painting contractor from Atlanta who was paying a Mexican painter I spoke with (in Spanish) who was earning $4 an hour in 2006 to paint rebuilds in coastal Alabama after Katrina. Oh, I guess most contractors are GOP, so I guess that will never happen.
Actually, quite a few become citizens, but, we DO have a major problem with overstayed Visas, and Trump should address it.