Michael Wildes, the attorney who helped First Lady Melania Trump secure her U.S. citizenship, says the White House plan to change the H-1B visa system could devastate small businesses, rural employers, and American universities.
In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Wildes said, “A ranked H-1B lottery system would affect small- to medium-sized enterprises, as well as rural employers, very negatively. It could affect international students and their enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities.”
The H-1B program is one of the main ways U.S. companies bring in high-skilled foreign workers. Every year, demand far outstrips supply. The current lottery system is random, giving a wide range of employers a chance. But the White House wants to replace the lottery with a system that favors applicants who earn higher salaries or hold advanced degrees.
On paper, it sounds like a way to reward the “best and brightest.” But Wildes says the real winners would be Silicon Valley giants, who can outbid everyone else. “It forces employers to offer higher wages, which might look good, but ultimately increases income inequality in the workforce,” he warned. “Small businesses, farms, factories simply cannot compete with those wage demands.”
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Universities are worried too. Many international students count on H-1B visas to stay in the United States after graduation. Without that option, some may pick schools in other countries. Wildes says losing them would not only reduce diversity but also raise costs for American families.
“Without a clear pathway to remain in the U.S., high-talent students will choose to study elsewhere, raising tuition costs for American students. It’s stupid not to invest in foreign students who have already paid tuition and lived here, only to then let them take their talent to another economy,” he said.
That warning echoes fears raised by university leaders who depend on international enrollment. Foreign students pay billions in tuition every year. They also help fund scholarships that make college more affordable for Americans. If those students go elsewhere, schools could lose out on revenue — forcing tuition hikes at home.
Wildes speaks with unusual authority. His late father, Leon Wildes, represented John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the 1970s when the Nixon administration tried to deport them. The family law firm has since handled cases for celebrities from Lionel Richie to soccer icon Pelé.
“Just like back then, we have proposed new rulings,” Wildes said. “And I want to give my perspective on it because so many businesses rely heavily on H-1B talent.”
The White House has not yet commented. But not everyone agrees with Wildes. The Institute for Progress, a Washington think tank, argues that eliminating the lottery could increase the economic value of the program by nearly 90%. They say the country should prioritize applicants with the highest skills and salaries to maximize returns.
The final decision has not been made. The Department of Homeland Security will publish the full proposal, then open it up for public comment. That process could take months. For now, businesses and universities are left in limbo.
Wildes called the stakes enormous. “This has biblical importance,” he said. “As if the pharaoh was saying to make bricks now without straw.”
Featured image via Instagram screengrab
