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Trump’s H-1B fee brings uncertainty to Guam

AnyFans 2025-10-05

By Blox Content Management,By Jolene Toves – For Variety

HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — President Donald Trump on Friday Sept. 19, suspended the entry of certain H-1B nonimmigrant workers, implementing a fee for new applications. This could make hiring foreign skilled workers financially impossible for Guam contractors, health providers and tech companies.

Trump’s proclamation restricts entry for foreign workers to perform services in specialty occupations under the H1-B visa program unless the company that’s bringing them pays $100,000 as part of the petition. According to the White House fact sheet, it also directs the secretary of Homeland Security to restrict approvals if the fee is not paid, while allowing for case-by-case exemptions if in the national interest.

Guam Delegate James Moylan received notice of the new H-1B visa policy on Friday, which prompted him to contact federal leaders. “We immediately put out an inquiry with our federal contacts and are awaiting formal response on how this change may affect Guam, including health care professionals and other critical workers currently on island,” Moylan’s office said in a statement on Sunday. Guam has suffered perennial shortages of skilled workers. To fill critical gaps in the local skilled workforce, contractors have had to source manpower abroad to fulfill federal contract and essential projects.

Moylan’s office acknowledged the questions and concerns raised to include if the fee applies to current and future H-1B working in Guam, whether an exemption can be sought, and how federal contractors and essential projects will be impacted. “While we await clarification, please know that Congressman Moylan is actively engaging with the relevant agencies to ensure Guam’s concerns are heard and considered,” Moylan office said.

The White House noted that Trump issued the order to combat H-1B abuses. “American workers are being replaced with lower-paid foreign labor, creating an economic and national security threat to the nation,” the White House fact sheet states. As an example, the White House cited national unemployment rates among recent computer science graduates at 6.1% and 7.5% for computer engineering graduates — “more than double” the rates for biology or art history majors. “American companies are laying off their American technology workers and seemingly replacing them with H-1B workers. … American IT workers have even been reportedly forced to train their foreign replacements under nondisclosure agreements,” the White House fact sheet states.

According to the White House, Trump chose to impose “higher costs” on companies seeking to utilize the H-1B program to address the abuse, stop the undercutting of wages and protect our national security. “The H-1B program is creating disincentives for future American workers to choose STEM careers, which threatens our national security,” the White House said.