The United States Department of Labor (DOL) has launched at least 175 investigations into potential abuses of the H-1B visa program as part of a crackdown to protect American jobs. This initiative, called Project Firewall, was launched in September under the Trump administration to ensure that U.S. companies prioritize hiring qualified American workers instead of exploiting the visa system to employ lower-paid foreign workers, particularly in tech and engineering roles. The program allows U.S. employers to recruit foreign professionals for specialized positions, but concerns have grown that some companies misuse the system, offering wages below those promised and displacing American labor.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is personally certifying the initiation of these investigations, a first for the department, indicating a strong commitment to addressing H-1B visa program violations. The investigations have uncovered troubling patterns, including cases where foreign employees were paid significantly less than advertised, which indirectly pressures American workers to accept lower salaries. In some instances, companies delayed reporting when H-1B workers were terminated, sometimes for weeks or months. Investigators also found discrepancies in Labor Condition Applications (LCAs), required documents for visa filings, such as fraudulent job site locations, job postings reused without real relevance to listed roles, and employees being unaware of the positions they were supposedly hired for.
The DOL has also actively used social media to highlight its stance against H-1B visa abuse, emphasizing that the ‘American Dream’ has been compromised by companies prioritizing foreign workers to the detriment of young Americans. A recent campaign video specifically pointed to India as the largest beneficiary of the H-1B program, with the department accusing businesses of exploiting the system to replace American workers.
This intensified enforcement follows President Donald Trump’s September proclamation imposing a $100,000 one-time fee on H-1B visa applications, intending to limit the number of these visas granted and deter companies from abusing the program. The administration states that these measures are part of a broader strategy to ensure that high-skilled jobs go to American workers first, promoting economic fairness and national security.
