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President Trump pushed back this week when asked on Fox News about H-1B visas, bluntly telling Laura Ingraham, “You also do have to bring in talent,” as he defended a measured approach to high-skilled immigration. The remark came during an interview that underscored a broader White House effort to balance protecting American workers with keeping the United States competitive in key industries. The president’s line was clear: America must guard jobs and wages first, but a closed economy is not how we win the future.
That same administration has, at the same time, moved to make the H-1B pathway far more expensive and restrictive — including a controversial $100,000 fee for new visas that has prompted legal challenges from big business. Major groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have already sued, arguing the administration exceeded its authority and threatened businesses that rely on skilled foreign hires. Conservatives who care about rule of law should welcome such judicial scrutiny while still supporting policies that prioritize American labor.
Make no mistake: the impulse behind tightening H-1B rules is righteous — for years companies gaming the system have undercut American workers and outsourced jobs while preaching open borders. Laura Ingraham raised the obvious fear that cheap foreign labor could blunt wage growth for everyday Americans, and the president answered by acknowledging that concern even as he insisted on bringing in needed talent. Trump’s posture here is the kind of pragmatic patriotism voters expect: America first, but smart about the realities of global competition.
At the same time, the outrage from tech giants and big law firms rings hollow when measured against their own business models; these same companies lobbied for easy access to foreign labor for years and now cry foul when forced to pay a fair price. If Washington is serious about restoring fairness in the labor market, it must stop protecting corporate outsourcing and start demanding that employers hire and train Americans first. Let the CEOs complain; hardworking Americans deserve policies that put their wages and families ahead of shareholder bonuses.
There are real consequences and real wrinkles to manage — rural hospitals, schools, and certain critical industries rely on foreign professionals, and the administration has signaled exemptions for national-interest cases even as details remain fuzzy. Conservatives should insist on sensible carve-outs that protect national security and essential services, while resisting blanket loopholes that would eviscerate reform. A nation that defends its citizens and secures its borders can still make room for exceptional talent where it truly benefits the country.
The right response is not reflexive cheerleading for corporate interests nor open-armed surrender to global labor markets — it is serious reform: enforce wage protections, close loopholes, and invest in American education and apprenticeships so our kids do the jobs of tomorrow. Congress should step up and codify a merit-based system that rewards innovation on American soil and penalizes firms that choose cheap foreign labor over American employees. That is conservative governance: practical, protective, and patriotic.
If we want a prosperous, secure America, we back leaders who put citizens first while keeping this country at the cutting edge. President Trump’s blunt honesty about talent and his willingness to force the debate are exactly the kind of fight Americans sent him to undertake. Hardworking patriots across this country know the score — we can defend our workers and still win the global race for talent on our terms.
