Explained: Trump’s “Project Firewall” Locking Kenyans Out of US Jobs

Thousands of Kenyan professionals in technology, medicine, and research will be affected by the United States’ new immigration crackdown, dubbed Project Firewall.

The Trump Administration has launched Project Firewall, an enforcement initiative targeting the H-1B visa program. The program is the primary means by which highly skilled foreign workers can secure jobs in America.

The move, announced by the US Department of Labor (DOL), introduces stricter investigations, tougher penalties, and a new Ksh13 million ($100,000) fee for new H-1B visas.

Although Washington says the goal is to “protect American jobs,” the policy raises new uncertainties for Kenyan graduates, tech specialists, and medical professionals who have long relied on H-1B visas to build careers in the US.

The Trump Administration is standing by our commitment to end practices that leave Americans in the dust. As we reestablish economic dominance, we must protect our most valuable resource: the American worker.

Launching Project Firewall will help us ensure no employers are abusing H-1B visas at the expense of our workforce. By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners will ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

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What Exactly is Project Firewall?

Project Firewall is the Trump Administration’s first-ever broad-based enforcement campaign aimed at cracking down on alleged fraud and abuse in the H-1B visa program.

Unlike past years, where cases were investigated only after workers filed complaints, the Department of Labor will henceforth proactively investigate companies suspected of undercutting American workers by hiring foreign employees.

Additionally, the Secretary of Labor will personally certify investigations where there is “reasonable cause” to believe employers are violating the law.

Consequently, violations may result in back wages owed to affected workers, substantial civil penalties, and debarment from sponsoring future H-1B visas.

“By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners will ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first,” said Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

At the same time, America has enforced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, up from a previous cost of $1,700 to $4,500, which companies must pay when sponsoring foreign workers. This fee took effect on Sunday, September 21.

The announcement caused widespread panic across the corporate world, with firms such as Google and Microsoft advising their H-1B employees to avoid international travel until details were clarified.

However, the White House later announced that the fee will not affect current H-1B holders or renewals, and doctors may be exempt due to healthcare shortages in rural America.

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Why Has Trump Launched the Crackdown?

Trump argues that the H-1B visa program, created in 1990 to fill gaps in US labor markets, has been systemically abused.

Officials say outsourcing firms, especially in the IT sector, use H-1B visas to import cheaper labor, replacing American workers and depressing wages.

Additionally, President Trump declared the program a threat to both economic and national security, explaining that the large-scale replacement of American workers, particularly in STEM fields.

Outsourcing firms, which employ thousands of foreign workers in IT and consulting, have long been accused of misusing the program, and may be the first to be affected. 

However, even major American employers could face audits of their hiring practices.

With approximately 730,000 H-1B holders and 550,000 dependents already in the US, this means competition for Kenyans seeking jobs in the US will be even more intense. 

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