The Trump administration has launched a sweeping crackdown on alleged misuse of the H-1B visa programme, which allows US companies to hire foreign skilled workers . The US Department of Labour (DOL) said on Friday it has initiated 175 investigations into potential violations as part of a broader effort to “protect American jobs.”
In a post on X, the department said, “As part of our mission to protect American jobs, we’ve launched 175 investigations into H-1B abuse.” Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the agency said it would continue taking action to ensure that “American workers come first.”
Indicators of H-1B visa abuse
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the official website of the US government, has listed down several red flags for fraud and misconduct in the H-1B programme, including:
Many concerns found
According to Fox News Digital, the 175 active probes which have already uncovered more than $15 million in unpaid wages centre around a range of violations, from fake worksites and underpaid employees to employers failing to comply with basic visa and reporting requirements. The DOL did not share specific case details but confirmed that the probes have revealed “a bounty of concerns".
A White House official told Fox News Digital that the new measures including higher H-1B fees are designed to prevent “companies from spamming the system and driving down wages” while supporting “American businesses who actually want to bring high-skilled workers” to the US.
Trump’s H-1B visa proclamation
In a presidential proclamation issued on September 19 on the White House website, titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”, Trump said the H-1B programme, originally meant to bring in high-skilled professionals, has been “deliberately exploited to replace American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour.”
The proclamation warned that such large-scale abuse “undermines both economic and national security,” citing extensive data on its negative impact.
Key findings in Trump's proclamation:
IT sector dominates H-1B visa abuse: Information technology firms account for over 65% of H-1B jobs, up from 32% in 2003, with outsourcing companies among the biggest users of the programme.
Wage suppression: Some employers pay up to 36% less for H-1B “entry-level” tech roles compared to American workers, artificially lowering industry wages.
Layoffs and replacement: Major tech firms were cited for laying off thousands of U.S. employees while hiring H-1B workers, with one company firing 15,000 staff while getting approval for 5,000 visa holders.
Rising foreign share in STEM: The number of foreign STEM workers in the U.S. doubled from 1.2 million in 2000 to 2.5 million in 2019, while overall STEM jobs rose just 44.5%.
National security concerns: Authorities linked H-1B-reliant outsourcing companies to alleged visa fraud, money laundering, and RICO-related offences, calling the abuse a threat to U.S. economic and security interests.
Under the proclamation, H-1B petitions filed after September 21 will require an additional $100,000 fee as a condition for eligibility.
In a post on X, the department said, “As part of our mission to protect American jobs, we’ve launched 175 investigations into H-1B abuse.” Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the agency said it would continue taking action to ensure that “American workers come first.”
🚨PROJECT FIREWALL UPDATE🚨
— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) November 7, 2025
As part of our mission to protect American Jobs, we’ve launched 175 investigations into H-1B abuse.
Under @POTUS and @SecretaryLCD’s leadership, we’ll continue taking action to put American Workers FIRST! pic.twitter.com/WEKe0EBj6r
Indicators of H-1B visa abuse
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the official website of the US government, has listed down several red flags for fraud and misconduct in the H-1B programme, including:
- Paying workers less than the certified wage or “benching” them without pay.
- Wage disparities between H-1B and US employees doing similar work.
- Assigning duties not listed in the visa petition or at locations not certified in official filings.
- Employing H-1B workers with less experience than available American counterparts.
- Failing to notify US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of terminations or delays in doing so.
Many concerns found
According to Fox News Digital, the 175 active probes which have already uncovered more than $15 million in unpaid wages centre around a range of violations, from fake worksites and underpaid employees to employers failing to comply with basic visa and reporting requirements. The DOL did not share specific case details but confirmed that the probes have revealed “a bounty of concerns".
- Fake worksites listed on official Labour Condition Applications (LCAs) or job descriptions with no real positions.
- Underpayment of foreign workers with advanced degrees, often earning less than what was advertised in job postings.
- Workers unaware of assigned roles listed in visa documents.
- Delayed reporting of H-1B worker terminations to USCIS.
- Generic or inaccurate job notices for American workers, often copy-pasted with little relation to the actual role.
A White House official told Fox News Digital that the new measures including higher H-1B fees are designed to prevent “companies from spamming the system and driving down wages” while supporting “American businesses who actually want to bring high-skilled workers” to the US.
Trump’s H-1B visa proclamation
In a presidential proclamation issued on September 19 on the White House website, titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”, Trump said the H-1B programme, originally meant to bring in high-skilled professionals, has been “deliberately exploited to replace American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour.”
The proclamation warned that such large-scale abuse “undermines both economic and national security,” citing extensive data on its negative impact.
Key findings in Trump's proclamation:
IT sector dominates H-1B visa abuse: Information technology firms account for over 65% of H-1B jobs, up from 32% in 2003, with outsourcing companies among the biggest users of the programme.
Wage suppression: Some employers pay up to 36% less for H-1B “entry-level” tech roles compared to American workers, artificially lowering industry wages.
Layoffs and replacement: Major tech firms were cited for laying off thousands of U.S. employees while hiring H-1B workers, with one company firing 15,000 staff while getting approval for 5,000 visa holders.
Rising foreign share in STEM: The number of foreign STEM workers in the U.S. doubled from 1.2 million in 2000 to 2.5 million in 2019, while overall STEM jobs rose just 44.5%.
National security concerns: Authorities linked H-1B-reliant outsourcing companies to alleged visa fraud, money laundering, and RICO-related offences, calling the abuse a threat to U.S. economic and security interests.
Under the proclamation, H-1B petitions filed after September 21 will require an additional $100,000 fee as a condition for eligibility.
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