WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President JD Vance has taken on a high-profile assignment from President Donald Trump, leading a major initiative aimed at investigating alleged fraud within U.S. employment visa programs.
Speaking at an anti-fraud event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vance announced that the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General has launched a broad investigation into suspected abuse of employment-based visas, including the H-1B program. Officials say the effort is intended to protect American workers and crack down on fraudulent schemes that may have exploited both foreign employees and the U.S. labor market.
“We want to make sure American jobs go to American workers—not foreign fraudsters,” Vance said, emphasizing that the Trump administration is making visa enforcement a top priority.
According to Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito, investigators have already issued dozens of subpoenas as part of the expanding probe. Authorities are examining allegations that some employers and labor brokers submitted fraudulent visa applications, engaged in illegal wage kickback schemes, and used below-market labor to displace qualified American workers.
D’Esposito also claimed that investigators are looking into possible connections between certain visa fraud operations and human trafficking networks, forced labor schemes, transnational gangs, and organized crime. He argued that these alleged abuses have cost the U.S. economy hundreds of millions of dollars while creating serious risks in industries including healthcare.
“This is another example where fraud is fueling violent crime,” D’Esposito said, adding that investigators believe some of the alleged activity extends beyond factories into hospitals and medical offices, potentially putting patients at risk.
The investigation will reportedly focus on both H-1B visas and employment-based green card applications processed through the PERM labor certification system, which allows employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency after demonstrating that qualified American workers are unavailable.
The H-1B visa program was originally designed to allow U.S. companies to recruit highly skilled professionals in specialized fields such as technology, engineering, medicine, and science. However, Vance argued that the system has increasingly been exploited by companies seeking lower labor costs rather than addressing genuine workforce shortages.
“This visa program was created to attract brilliant scientists, engineers, doctors, and innovators,” Vance said. “But too often, corporations and fraudsters overseas have used it to undercut the wages of American workers. Under the Trump administration, we’re saying: No more.”
Officials say individuals found to have obtained immigration benefits through fraud could face removal from the program and additional legal consequences.
According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 73% of H-1B recipients are from India, with the majority holding advanced degrees and working in technology-related occupations such as software development, programming, technical support, and data communications.
Some of America’s largest technology companies—including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple—are among the leading employers of H-1B workers. The program is also widely used across healthcare, manufacturing, and higher education.
Federal data show that California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Washington receive the largest share of approved H-1B petitions. According to Pew’s analysis, approvals reached a record 442,425 in 2022.
The Trump administration says the new investigation is part of a broader effort to strengthen immigration enforcement, combat fraud, and ensure that employment-based visa programs serve their original purpose while protecting opportunities for American workers.
