Vice President JD Vance and the Department of Labor’s Inspector General have launched a significant new investigation into alleged widespread abuse of U.S. work visa programs by foreign nationals, framing the probe as a key component of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration fraud.
Speaking at an anti-fraud event in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Vance detailed the initiative, stating that Labor Department officials have already issued dozens of subpoenas. The investigation aims to protect American workers by ensuring that U.S. jobs go to domestic talent rather than “foreign fraudsters,” he said.
Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito told the New York Post that the schemes under scrutiny have reportedly cost the U.S. medical industry hundreds of millions of dollars, while impacting additional employment sectors. Investigators believe some operations involve forced-labor networks and human trafficking organizations.
According to D’Esposito, the Office of Inspector General has uncovered “widespread schemes” in which employers and labor brokers submitted fraudulent applications, exploited foreign workers through coercive wage-kickback arrangements, and undercut American workers by flooding the labor market with below-wage employees.
Department of Homeland Security assessments have identified fraud in as much as 21 percent of H-1B visa petitions, the Post reported. The investigation will also examine abuses involving both H-1B visa holders and recipients of employment-based green cards. Officials are reviewing cases where foreign workers may have improperly displaced American employees or secured immigration benefits through fraudulent means.
D’Esposito emphasized the broader public safety implications, telling Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria” that visa fraud is “fueling violent crime” and is tied to cartels and transnational gangs. “This is not just people working in factories or actual labor,” he added. “These are people working in medical facilities and doctors’ offices that are actually putting people in harm’s way.”
In his remarks in Milwaukee, Vance highlighted the original intent of the H-1B visa program, which was designed to attract highly skilled individuals in technology, science, and medicine. “But what’s happening way too much is that big corporations and fraudsters overseas are using this program to undercut the wages of American workers,” he said.
The announcement underscores the administration’s commitment to reforming visa programs to prioritize American labor interests while addressing exploitation and national security concerns linked to fraudulent immigration practices. The investigation is ongoing, with further details expected as subpoenas yield additional evidence.
