The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has selected 120,141 H-1B visa applications for fiscal year 2026 — the lowest number since 2021.
Despite being a sharp drop from recent years, the figure has reignited debate among conservative groups, with many MAGA supporters claiming that American jobs are being outsourced.
Right-wing activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer sounded the alarm on X, saying, “US workers are being replaced. 120,000 H-1B visas approved for 2026. Not good.”
Loomer’s comments reflect a broader divide within the MAGA movement.
One faction, including Elon Musk, David Sacks, and Vivek Ramaswamy, supports expanding the H-1B visa program to attract global talent. The opposing side, led by Steve Bannon and Loomer, argues that the program undermines American workers and should be dramatically scaled back.
“The number of H-1Bs we need this year is ZERO,” said Bannon, expressing outrage at the approvals. “In an era of mass layoffs and AI job displacement, this is unacceptable. Every visa issued should be revoked, and every job given to an American.”
USCIS received 358,737 registrations for FY 2026, of which 343,981 were deemed eligible — a 27% decline from the previous year’s 470,342. The annual cap includes 65,000 general H-1Bs, plus 20,000 additional slots for applicants with U.S. advanced degrees.
Despite backlash, the H-1B program remains crucial to sectors like tech, finance, and academia. In 2024, tech giants including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Tesla secured thousands of H-1Bs to bring skilled talent into the country.
The controversy follows a turbulent year, including a viral “Christmas H-1B” uproar that fueled anti-immigrant sentiment among some MAGA supporters.
"H-1B visa numbers for FY 2026: Despite mass tech layoffs and voter backlash — especially after the Christmas H-1B uproar — the Trump team stays hands-off: 120,141 NEW H-1Bs selected for FY2026. Demand remains high despite layoffs — a clear sign US workers are being replaced," X handle of US Tech Workers posted.
