US launches its first sweeping investigation into alleged fraud involving H-1B and PERM work visas.
US Vice President JD Vance announced this week that the US Department of Labour has launched investigations and issued subpoenas against alleged foreign fraudsters accused of misusing the H-1B visa program, saying the Trump administration would ensure the scheme does not undermine American workers.
Speaking in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vance said the action was part of a broader fraud enforcement effort aimed at protecting taxpayer money and preventing misuse of visa programs.
"We have a program called the H-1B visa program. This goes to show how broad-based the fraud task force is. We're fighting for your taxpayer money, but we're also making sure that fraudsters don't take advantage of these visa programs," Vance said, adding that large corporations and overseas entities were misusing the program to reduce wages for American workers.
Vance said the Federal Department of Labour has initiated "dozens of subpoenas and investigations" into entities accused of attempting to exploit the H-1B visa system. "American jobs ought to go to American workers and not foreign fraudsters, and the Department of Labour is fighting back against it!" he said.
|
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work permit that allows US employers to hire foreign professionals in specialized occupations. It is typically granted for three years and can be extended to a maximum of six years. The PERM program, meanwhile, is the labour certification process employers must complete before sponsoring many foreign workers for permanent residency. |
