Expert blasts Illinois Congressman’s push to double H-1Bs as ‘tone-deaf’

A renewed push to double H-1B visas is touted as a talent win, but critics warn it could reshape the tech market by driving down wages and edging out U.S. grads.

Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, reintroduced the HIRE Act to double the H-1B visa cap from 65,000 to 130,000.

“To build the jobs and industries of tomorrow, America must stay at the forefront of innovation by strengthening our own workforce while continuing to welcome top talent from around the globe,” Krishnamoorthi said in a news release.

Simon Hankinson, senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, called the proposal “tone-deaf,” given the current job climate.

“We’ve got unprecedented graduate unemployment,” he said, estimating that rates for new graduates run from 10% up to 25%. “And at the same time, this guy i...