US Immigration Bill Proposes Scrapping OPT and Closing H-1B Residency Route

US Representative Chip Roy has introduced the Pausing All Admissions Until Security Ensured (PAUSE) Act, a bill that aims to halt nearly all immigration to the United States until a set of stringent conditions are met.

The PAUSE Act would suspend most visa categories, permitting only short-term tourism. It also proposes the elimination of programmes such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) and a significant overhaul of the H-1B visa system. 

Roy argues that legal immigration has become unsustainable, citing the growing foreign-born population and the strain on the immigration system. Under the bill, foreign nationals currently in the US would face restrictions, including the end of pathways to permanent residency for H-1B visa holders. 

Additionally, OPT, which allows international students to gain work experience in the US, would be terminated. Roy contends that such policies displace American workers, particularly those seeking entry-level jobs.

The legislation includes several conditions for lifting the freeze. These include a reversal of the Plyler v. Doe ruling, which guarantees public education to children regardless of immigration status, and a restriction of birthright citizenship. Other provisions propose eliminating chain migration, ending the Diversity Visa lottery, and limiting family reunification to spouses and minor children. 

The bill also seeks to prevent noncitizens from accessing federal welfare benefits, including healthcare, food assistance, and student loans. Roy presents the bill as a necessary measure to restore fairness to the immigration system, arguing that unchecked immigration has negatively impacted American workers, housing, and public services.