Senator Eric Schmitt Exposes Alleged OPT Program Abuse in Missouri
Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt has intensified his campaign against the Optional Practical Training program, a pathway for foreign students on F1 visas to gain work experience in the United States. In a recent statement, Schmitt disclosed startling data specific to Missouri, demanding an immediate end to what he calls a harmful practice that disadvantages American students and workers.
Revealing the Numbers: OPT Visas in Missouri
According to figures provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Schmitt revealed that there are currently 4,430 OPT visas active in Missouri alone. He argued that many of these visa holders are employed in positions that do not align with their academic majors, violating program rules designed to ensure job relevance.
Schmitt highlighted specific examples of alleged misuse:
- A local Ethiopian restaurant filed for a STEM OPT employee, granting three years of work authorization, despite questions about the necessity of a STEM graduate in such a setting.
- An OPT employee works for a small janitorial services company, a role Schmitt claims lacks a natural connection to typical student majors.
Program Rules and Alleged Exploitation
The OPT program mandates that jobs must be directly related to a student's major area of study, with STEM majors eligible for up to three years of work authorization. Additionally, OPT holders are exempt from FICA taxes, providing employers with a tax subsidy exceeding 15%. Schmitt contends that this setup, combined with the desperation of foreign students for employment, leads to widespread abuse.
"OPT jobs must be directly related to the student’s major area of study. And if you're a STEM major, you get three-years of work authorization. Not only that, OPT holders are exempt from FICA taxes—a more than 15% tax subsidy for employers. Given that, and considering foreigners utilizing OPT may be desperate for work, it should come as no surprise OPT is often abused," Schmitt stated.
Impact on American Workers and Systemic Issues
Schmitt warned that the OPT program not only undermines white-collar opportunities but also floods the market with recent graduates willing to take any job, undercutting blue-collar workers. He cited instances of foreign students working in restaurants, bars, and janitorial services, roles he believes are unrelated to their studies.
Furthermore, the senator accused shady consultants and non-governmental organizations of exploiting the system by coaching foreign students on how to manipulate OPT rules. He pointed to Vitendo4Africa as an example, an organization offering classes on green card applications, which he claims uses foreign student labor to facilitate the importation of more workers.
Call to Action: Shutting Down OPT
In his concluding remarks, Schmitt labeled OPT as a backdoor jobs program that prioritizes foreign nationals over American citizens. "Bottom line: OPT is not a student training program. It’s a backdoor jobs program for foreign nationals at the expense of Missouri families and American grads who are still struggling to find work. USCIS, it’s time to shut this down. Missourians first. Americans first," he wrote.
This revelation adds fuel to the ongoing debate over immigration policies and their impact on domestic employment, with Schmitt urging U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to take immediate action to protect American workers.
