Senator Mike Lee has said he is working on legislation to stop H1B visa abuse

U.S. Senator Mike Lee has stirred debate over the future of H-1B visas after posting on social media: “Is it time to pause H-1B visas?” His comment came in reaction to unverified claims alleging that Walmart paid bribes to bring in Indian tech workers while sidelining American employees.

The remark echoes recent rhetoric from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who called for halting H-1B visas for Indian workers, arguing they were “replacing American jobs.” Greene’s push came after President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Indian goods and services in response to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.

The controversy gained traction after speculation about Walmart’s hiring practices spread on forums such as Blind and Reddit, with posts alleging “massive fraud” in the company’s Global Tech division and suggesting a senior executive had been fired. These claims were later amplified on X by a self-described “H-1B whistleblower.”

Walmart has rejected any connection between its staffing decisions and H-1B visas, saying a recent internal probe led to the termination of one vendor and several U.S.-based associates but had “nothing to do with H-1B visas.” The company also announced layoffs affecting roughly 1,500 employees as part of a restructuring, sparking criticism online amid suspicions of jobs being outsourced.

The renewed scrutiny of H-1B visas comes as immigration and jobs remain politically charged ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. With thousands of Indian engineers relying on the program to work in the U.S., some lawmakers have suggested the system could become a new flashpoint in Trump’s second term.