US Cracks Down On H-1B Visa Abuse: 175 Investigations Launched To Protect 'American Jobs'

<p><!--StartFragment --></p> <p class="pf0"><span class="cf0">The United States Department of Labor has launched 175 investigations into alleged abuses of the H-1B visa </span><span class="cf0">programme</span><span class="cf0">, amid the Donald Trump administration&rsquo;s ongoing crackdown on immigration and efforts to reform the system to </span><span class="cf0">prioritise</span><span class="cf0"> American workers.</span><span class="cf0">The H-1B </span><span class="cf0">programme</span><span class="cf0"> allows US companies to hire skilled foreign workers for </span><span class="cf0">specialised</span><span class="cf0"> roles, particularly in the technology and engineering sectors. However, authorities have raised concerns that some firms may be exploiting the system to employ lower-paid foreign professionals in place of qualified American candidates.</span></p> <p class="pf0"><span class="cf0">The US Department of Labor (DOL) began its enforcement drive under &ldquo;Project Firewall&rdquo;, launched in September, to assess whether employers are complying with H-1B visa rules. The initiative focuses on preventing companies from misusing the visa system to undercut wages or sideline American workers in </span><span class="cf0">favour</span><span class="cf0"> of cheaper overseas </span><span class="cf0">labour</span><span class="cf0">.</span></p> <p class="pf0"><span class="cf0">According to Fox News, US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-</span><span class="cf0">DeRemer</span><span class="cf0"> has taken the unprecedented step of personally certifying the initiation of these investigations.</span></p> <p class="pf0"><span class="cf0">&ldquo;The Labor Department is using every resource currently at our disposal to put a stop to H-1B visa abuse, and for the first time, I am personally certifying investigations into suspected violations to better protect American jobs,&rdquo; Chavez-</span><span class="cf0">DeRemer</span><span class="cf0"> told Fox News Digital.</span></p> <p class="pf0"><span class="cf0">The move comes as part of a broader policy shift under Trump&rsquo;s administration aimed at tightening immigration norms, limiting visa extensions, and ensuring that American workers are given priority for high-paying technical roles.</span></p> <p class="pf0"><span class="cf0">In a striking communication effort, the Department of Labor has also launched a social media campaign highlighting alleged misuse of the H-1B visa </span><span class="cf0">programme</span><span class="cf0">. The campaign video accuses certain businesses of &ldquo;stealing the American Dream&rdquo; by replacing local employees with foreign workers. It claims that &ldquo;jobs have been replaced by foreign workers due to rampant abuse of the H-1B visa.&rdquo;</span></p> <p class="pf0"><span class="cf0">Notably, the ad singles out India as the largest beneficiary of the H-1B system , </span><span class="cf1">a point likely to stir diplomatic sensitivity, given India&rsquo;s longstanding dominance in skilled visa approvals.</span></p> <p class="pf0"><span class="cf1">The heightened scrutiny represents one of the most aggressive enforcement actions against the H-1B system in recent years, </span><span class="cf1">signalling</span><span class="cf1"> Washington&rsquo;s intention to clamp down on perceived exploitation while reshaping immigration policy around domestic workforce protection.</span></p> <p><!--EndFragment --></p>

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