US Signals Crackdown on Foreign Worker Visas Amid H-1B Scrutiny
The US Department of Labor is poised to strengthen enforcement actions against companies utilizing foreign labor visa programs, according to a post by Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito on X. His statement, 'Big week ahead on the foreign labour visa front,' hints at intensified scrutiny without specifying which visa program, company, or investigation is targeted.
This development follows the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on employment-based immigration programs, particularly the H-1B visa system. Officials have alleged that businesses exploit these visas to replace American workers with lower-cost foreign labor. Vice President JD Vance, in a video on X, labeled the H-1B program 'completely broken' and endorsed its abolition, citing misuse by technology and accounting firms to undercut domestic wages.
Vance defended a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B petitions, introduced in September 2025 and extended until September 21, 2027. The fee, exempting cases deemed critical to national interests, aims to deter companies from replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labor. However, a federal magistrate issued an injunction on October 1, ruling that the fee violated administrative rulemaking procedures.
The administration has also directed agencies to review H-1B sponsors for potential layoffs of American workers in similar roles. Additionally, the State Department has imposed visa bond requirements on 50 countries, excluding India but including Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. The bond amounts, ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, are determined during visa interviews based on overstay data.