WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump defended the H-1B visa program during a Fox News interview Tuesday, saying the United States must sometimes rely on skilled foreign workers because “you don’t have certain talents” domestically. Trump’s comments came amid the administration’s decision to raise H-1B visa fees to $100,000 per petition and as officials launched 175 investigations into visa abuse cases nationwide.
Trump said U.S. manufacturing and defense industries in particular require technical skills that can’t be filled immediately by local labor, arguing that “you can’t take people off an unemployment line and say, ‘I’m going to put you into a factory.’” He cited a recent Georgia raid detaining around 300 South Korean workers at a battery plant, saying such operations show a balance between attracting talent and enforcing visa rules.
The remarks mark a tonal shift from Trump’s previous immigration messaging. During his administration, restrictions on legal immigration tightened even as he sought to boost investment in sectors like artificial intelligence and defense manufacturing. The president also confirmed plans to approve up to 600,000 student visas for Chinese nationals, saying foreign education exchanges benefit the U.S. economy. The policy has drawn mixed reactions: business leaders praised the stance as pragmatic, while some MAGA supporters called it a betrayal of his campaign promises on immigration.
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