Vance Warns Firms Against Replacing American Staff With Lower-Paid Foreigners

Topeka: US Vice President JD Vance has warned that his government will take action against companies that dismiss American employees and bring in lower-paid foreign workers to replace them. He also said visa fraud would be curbed.

Vance spoke on Monday at an election rally in Topeka, Kansas, where he was campaigning for Republican candidates. The midterm elections are set for November 3.

His remarks at the rally focused on protecting American citizens and prioritising jobs for them. "We will crack down on visa fraud, and we will act against any company that fires an American worker and hires a cheaper foreign worker in their place," he said.

He went on to say that sovereignty means American jobs go to American citizens, and that citizens control their own government and streets.

Vance did not mention any particular visa scheme. His comments, however, come as the Trump administration's visa policies for highly skilled foreign workers face court challenges. Indian professionals are watching closely, since Indians are the largest group among H-1B visa holders.

The H-1B visa permits American firms to employ foreign professionals with special skills. Indian IT professionals have long been major users of the programme.

Federal courts have so far stopped the Trump administration's plan to charge a 100,000-dollar fee on new H-1B applications. A Massachusetts court imposed a stay in June, and a California court did the same on September 30.

The US government has appealed the California ruling in the Ninth Circuit Court. A case management hearing was scheduled in the district court for Tuesday.

On foreign investment, Vance was equally blunt. He said his government would take steps to stop Wall Street and foreign investors from buying American homes. He insisted that American citizens must have priority over American homes and agricultural land.

In Kansas, he said the US Department of Agriculture was announcing millions of dollars in new grants for the state's ten meat processing centres. Four companies dominate much of American meat packing, and two of them are fully under foreign control, he added.

On drug prices, Vance said President Trump had invited pharmaceutical companies to the White House and asked them to treat Americans fairly. Companies that fail to do so could face the full weight of federal action.

Vance also named Bombardier as an investor in Kansas, recalling that the company had announced last week an expansion of its manufacturing activities in the state.

On energy, he said that rising tensions with a Middle Eastern leader affect petrol prices in America. He accused Democratic Party policies of making the nation more dependent on Middle Eastern leaders and referred to a major refinery expansion announced in Texas.

Protesters disrupted the event during his speech. Vance responded that Democrats had no option left but to obstruct and shut down debate.

Vance was supporting Republican Senator Roger Marshall against Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton. He described Hamilton as a leftist leader and claimed he would vote alongside Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer on every issue.

Marshall told the crowd that radical Islam is the greatest and most immediate threat to American democracy and freedom, citing France as an example of what happens when weak liberals give in.

US Home Secretary Doug Burgum and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach also addressed the gathering. Kobach said he had won 134 million dollars, or 13.4 crore dollars, against Meta in a case concerning Kansas children's interests.

Vance concluded by urging people to raise their voice by voting in the November 3 election.