The Trump administration has launched a massive crackdown on alleged fraud in the H-1B visa program, with Vice President JD Vance announcing new investigations and warning that employers misusing the system will face increased scrutiny.
Speaking during an anti-fraud event at the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee on Wednesday, July 8, Vance said the administration is working to ensure that employment opportunities intended for Americans are not undermined through abuse of the visa program.
JD Vance Announces H-1B Visa Fraud Investigation
Vance said the Department of Labor has already launched multiple investigations and sought dozens of subpoenas as part of the effort.
“Here’s a simple principle, ladies and gentlemen: American jobs ought to go to American workers and not foreign fraudsters, and the Department of Labor is fighting back against it,” Vance said.
The vice president argued that the H-1B visa system, originally designed to help American companies recruit highly skilled professionals, has been exploited by some employers and overseas actors.
“Big corporations and fraudsters overseas are using this program to undercut the wages of American workers,” he said. “If you are trying to take advantage of that visa program, you are not allowed into the United States.”
The H-1B program allows U.S. employers to sponsor foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring advanced knowledge or technical expertise.
Labor Officials Cite Alleged Abuse of Employment Programs
Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito said investigators have uncovered what he described as widespread abuse involving both H-1B visas and employment-based permanent labor certifications, commonly known as PERMs.
D’Esposito said investigators have uncovered cases in which employers and labor brokers allegedly filed fraudulent applications, set up wage kickback schemes, exploited foreign workers and paid below-market wages, hurting American workers.
He also said the investigation will examine alleged fraud involving employment-based green cards.
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D’Esposito told Fox Business that some of the alleged schemes have affected the medical industry as well as other employment sectors.
“This is another example where fraud is fueling violent crime,” he said.
He further alleged that some of the activity being investigated has links to forced labor networks, human trafficking, transnational gangs and cartels.
Administration Says Program Was Meant for Skilled Workers
During his remarks, Vance emphasized that the administration is not opposing legal employment-based immigration but is instead targeting abuse of the system.
“This is a visa program that was set up to ensure that if you were a brilliant technology person or a brilliant scientist or a brilliant doctor, you could come to the United States and get access to this visa program,” he said.
“What we’re doing in the Trump administration, we’re saying, ‘No more.'”
The administration said its goal is to prevent companies from using visa programs to reduce labor costs at the expense of American workers.
H-1B Program Plays Major Role in U.S. Workforce
The H-1B visa remains one of the most widely used employment visa programs in the United States.
According to the Pew Research Center, nearly three-quarters of H-1B recipients come from India. Many work in software development, programming, engineering, technical support, healthcare, and research.
Large technology companies, including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple, are among the major employers that sponsor H-1B workers.
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California, Texas, Washington, New York, and Illinois receive the most H-1B petitions.
H-1B visas generally allow foreign professionals to work in the United States for up to three years, with one extension available under existing rules.
Political Debate Over Immigration and Employment
The announcement is another chapter in the Trump administration’s major immigration agenda, which has focused on tougher enforcement while arguing that jobs should go to U.S. citizens.
During his Milwaukee appearance, Vance also linked the administration’s anti-fraud efforts to the upcoming midterm elections, accusing Democrats of failing to address fraud involving government programs.
He said previous generations of Democratic voters would not recognize today’s party, arguing that current leaders have failed to protect taxpayers and American workers.
