Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, U.S. Senator from Missouri, posted a series of statements on his social media account addressing immigration policy and recent developments related to Charlie, an individual he described as inspirational to millions of Americans.

On November 6, 2025, Schmitt commented on the legacy of Charlie, stating: "They tried to silence Charlie, but they only made his voice stronger. His spirit and legacy will carry on stronger than ever in the hearts and minds of the millions of Americans he inspired."

The following day, Schmitt turned his attention to immigration issues. On November 7, 2025, he wrote: "For decades, corporate elites and foreign interests have been abusing our immigration system. No more. It’s time to finally put America First." In this post, Schmitt expressed concerns about longstanding exploitation within the U.S. immigration framework by business leaders and international actors.

Later that same day, Schmitt addressed the use of H-1B visas by American companies. He stated: "Rather than recruiting elite talent, the H-1B visa is now often used to staff middle management bureaucracies. Incredibly, some companies are now even using H-1Bs to hire for DEI positions. I wrote to USCIS to highlight this absurd abuse in September:" The senator claimed that some firms are employing H-1B visa holders for roles in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), which he characterized as a misuse of the program originally intended for specialized skilled workers.

The H-1B visa program was established by Congress in 1990 with the intention of allowing U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge or skills. Over time there has been ongoing debate about whether companies have used these visas primarily for high-skilled labor or if they have increasingly filled other types of positions through this mechanism.

Senator Schmitt's remarks reflect continued scrutiny from lawmakers regarding both perceived abuses within legal immigration programs and broader concerns over how these policies impact American workers.