The latest attack on H-IBs has bipartisan support in America

Trump’ anti-immigration agenda could prove to be a vote winner

- PATRICIA LOPEZ

na one-two punch at employers, the Trump administration in America is following up its hefty $100,000skilled visa fee with Project Firewall, an aggressive immigration enforcement programme.

It isbeing billed asa sweeping effort to root out abuse of the H-IB visa programme by some of America’s largest employers.

It’s rare for the federal government to systematically target companies forimmigration enforcement; usually, the cons quences fall on immigrant workers, not their employers. It shows the depth of Trump’s intention to curb all forms of immigration. It could also reestablish his populist bona fides. Voters under 30 continue to worry about the economy. Some young male voters critical to Trump’s 2024 victory are drifting away. His signature legislative achievement, a mix of tax and benefit cuts called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, remains unpopular.

Trump needs to regain some lost ground toretain Republican Congressional majoritiesin midterm polls. Casting corporations asvillains that are depriving skilled American workers of six-figure jobs by hiring f eigners—H-1IB workers have a median wage of $108,000—neatly fits his persona asa hero for “forgotten men and women.”