The argument is probably that you'd end up in a situation where the highest-paid fields get all the H1-Bs and the lowest-paid fields get none. Workers in that h

The argument is probably that you'd end up in a situation where the highest-paid fields get all the H1-Bs and the lowest-paid fields get none. Workers in that highest-paid field would still get their salaries undercut and, in those lesser-paid field, there would be problems finding people with the right skills. I'd favor a policy that looks at the ratio of citizens/green card holders to H1-Bs when determining priority. Want more H1-Bs? Hire more citizens and green card holders. This is similar to what other countries do in mandating that a certain number of locals be employed before you can employ a foreigner. This both addresses the CoL objection you cited as well as the type of business objection I listed. But it would also destroy the body shops that basically only employ H1-Bs.