Optional Practical Training (OPT) program

The article argues that the U.S. legal immigration system, particularly the H-1B and Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs, enables corporations to replace American workers with foreign visa-sponsored labor. It cites data showing 83% of H-1B visas between 2020-2024 were for entry-level employees paid below the local median wage, and H-1B workers earn $19,000 less than U.S. workers in similar roles. The OPT program, with no salary floor or hiring caps, allows over 400,000 foreign students to work in sectors like technology and engineering despite ample American STEM graduates.