AMERICA FIRST
Empowering American Citizen Workers for a Stronger Future
For generations, America’s strength has come from its people — hardworking citizens who built tight-knit communities, shared a sense of purpose, and believed in the promise of opportunity.
But over decades, the heavy reliance on foreign labor — now an estimated 28.5 million documented non-citizen workers and students (legal non-citizen equivalents) in early 2026 — has reshaped our society.
It has brought diversity and economic contributions, but it has also left many Americans feeling sidelined in their own workplaces, priced out of neighborhoods, and disconnected from the nation they call home.
The U.S. Foreign Labor Levy is a bold, structured plan to restore what has been lost. It is not just about economics — it is about rebuilding the heart of America: strong communities, fair workplaces, and a renewed sense of shared identity and opportunity.
Transparency will be provided by the proposed NAICS 561399classification for Foreign Labor Placement and Management Services.
A Changing America: The Social Cost of Foreign Labor
Foreign labor has long been part of the American economy — from the Bracero Program in the mid-20th century to today’s H-1B visa holders in technology. In early 2026, the 28.5 million documented non-citizen labor equivalents break down as:
- Offshore contractors serving U.S. firms: ~12.3 million (43.2%)
- Green card holders (working LPRs): ~10.8 million (37.9%)
- Humanitarian/EAD workers: ~2.8 million (9.8%)
- Visa workers (H-1B, L-1, etc.): ~1.7 million (6.0%)
- Foreign students with work authorization (F-1/OPT/CPT): ~0.9 million (3.2%)
These workers fill roles across technology, manufacturing, healthcare, construction, agriculture, and hospitality. Their contributions are real. The question is whether the current scale and structure impose unaccounted social costs on American citizens.
Historical Context
- Mid-20th Century: The Bracero Program brought millions of Mexican agricultural workers, boosting output but often suppressing wages and straining resources for U.S. citizens.
- Late 20th Century: Expansion of H-1B visas and employment-based green cards brought skilled foreign workers into tech and professional services. American STEM graduates increasingly competed for fewer entry-level opportunities.
- Early 2026: With 28.5 million documented non-citizen labor equivalents and the broader foreign-born employed population at ~31.2 million (BLS February 2026, showing recent declines), the cumulative pressures on communities, wages, and opportunity have become clear.
The Challenges We Face Today
The sociological impacts manifest in four interconnected areas:
- Communities Pulled Apart
High concentrations of non-citizen workers, especially humanitarian/EAD and offshore labor, place pressure on housing, schools, and healthcare systems — particularly in mid-sized cities and rural areas. Remittances sent abroad reduce local economic circulation. Long-term residents often report feeling like strangers in neighborhoods that once felt like home, with reduced integration and a sense of social displacement.
- Workplaces That No Longer Feel Fair
Employers frequently gain a cost advantage of ~$10,500–$11,000 per worker equivalent when using certain non-citizen channels. This distorts hiring decisions and can suppress wages, especially in tech (where ~1.7 million visa workers are concentrated) and lower-wage sectors. Beyond economics, some American employees describe a diminished sense of shared norms, purpose, and belonging.
- The American Dream on Hold
Approximately 2.2 million Americans graduate each year with STEM and other degrees. Yet in many high-demand fields, entry-level and mid-level pathways are constrained by competition from lower-cost foreign labor pipelines. The belief that hard work reliably leads to stability and advancement has weakened for many working-age citizens.
- A Nation Divided
When large segments of the labor force do not participate in democratic life and many citizens feel their economic concerns are deprioritized, trust in institutions erodes. This fuels polarization and weakens the shared national identity that has historically been one of America’s greatest strengths.
A Path Forward: The U.S. Foreign Labor Levy
The U.S. Foreign Labor Levy, enabled by the proposed NAICS 561399, is a phased, data-driven framework to restore balance. It introduces tiered levies on foreign labor utilization to reduce the employer cost advantage while generating revenue for reinvestment in American workers and communities.
Key Goals:
- Gradual, incentive-based reduction in documented non-citizen labor equivalents.
- Projected ~$3.21 trillion in total levy revenue (2026–2029) to fund workforce training, citizen scholarships, veterans programs, and community infrastructure.
- Restoration of fairness so U.S. citizens can compete on more equal terms.
Anticipated Benefits:
- Bringing Communities Back Together — Easing pressure on housing, schools, and local services while recirculating earnings locally.
- Restoring Fairness to Workplaces — Eliminating much of the cost advantage, allowing merit-based hiring to prevail and rebuilding shared workplace culture.
- Reviving the American Dream — Opening millions of positions to U.S. citizens and funding training programs that improve social mobility.
- Rebuilding Trust and Unity — Addressing legitimate grievances with transparent policy, reducing polarization and strengthening national cohesion.
Protective low-tier rates are maintained for genuine labor shortages (e.g., certain agricultural and direct-care roles) to avoid disruption.
Addressing the Risks
Significant change carries risks, but they can be managed:
- Sectoral Shortages: Low-tier rates and levy-funded training pipelines for agriculture and healthcare.
- Transition Effects: Phased implementation and targeted community support.
- Social Cohesion: Transparent reporting and public communication focused on fairness and opportunity.
Join the Movement
The U.S. Foreign Labor Levy is more than policy — it is a chance to rebuild the America we love: communities where neighbors invest in one another, workplaces where every citizen has a fair shot, and a nation where opportunity and trust unite us.
By empowering American workers and restoring balance — with NAICS 561399 ensuring transparency — we can reclaim the heart of America for generations to come.
Take Action:
Contact your representatives to support the U.S. Citizen Workforce Protection and Employment Act. Demand a labor market that puts American citizens first.
Together, we can make America strong again — for our communities, our workers, and our future.Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics – Labor Force Characteristics of Foreign-Born Workers (February 2026)
- USCIS and DHS visa, green card, and humanitarian authorization data (2025–2026)
- Institute of International Education (IIE) – Open Doors 2025 Report
- National Center for Education Statistics and related workforce studies