SW Valley Times

Representative Paul A. Gosar has reintroduced legislation aimed at terminating the Optional Practical Training (OPT) Program, a program that allows foreign students to work in the United States post-graduation. The bill, known as H.R. 2315 or the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act, seeks to address concerns about the impact of OPT on American workers.

Gosar stated, "The OPT program completely undercuts American workers, particularly higher-skilled workers and recent college graduates, by giving employers a tax incentive to hire inexpensive, foreign labor under the guise of student training."

He argued that the program was never authorized by Congress and circumvents existing visa caps. "OPT incentivizes greedy businesses to fire Americans and replace them with inexpensive foreign labor by avoiding having to pay FICA and Medicare payroll taxes and other employee benefits," he said.

According to Gosar, OPT's expansion during the Obama Administration has led to significant growth in its use. Citing data from Pew Research Center, he noted that between 2008 and 2016, the program saw a 400% increase with 1.5 million foreign graduates utilizing it.

Gosar first introduced this legislation in the 116th Congress and has supported legal actions against the Department of Homeland Security regarding OPT. The current iteration of his bill does not prevent F-1 students from working while enrolled but aims to eliminate their ability to remain in the U.S. for three years after graduation.

The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Biggs, Burchett, Gill, Hageman, Miller (IL), Moore (AL), Ogles, and Roy. It also has support from organizations such as America First Policy Institute (AFPI), Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Immigration Accountability Project (IAP), and NumbersUSA.