Washington: The United States Department of Labor (DOL) has opened 175 investigations into possible abuses within the H-1B visa program, stepping up enforcement efforts aimed at protecting American workers from unfair labor practices. The initiative, known as Project Firewall, was launched in September as part of a broader strategy to ensure compliance and accountability among employers hiring foreign skilled workers.
According to Fox News, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer confirmed the new probes, describing them as “an unprecedented effort” to root out exploitation in the system. “The Labor Department is using every resource available to end H-1B visa abuse,” she said, adding that she had personally certified several investigations for the first time in the department’s history.
Project Firewall was created to protect the rights, wages, and job opportunities of highly skilled American professionals, the DOL said on its official website. The initiative aims to ensure that employers prioritize qualified US citizens before turning to the H-1B program and to hold accountable those who misuse it.
Under the new enforcement approach, the department can act “if reasonable cause exists” that an employer is violating H-1B regulations. Sanctions for violations may include back wage recovery, civil penalties, and even temporary bans on future H-1B hiring.
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer emphasized that the administration, under President Donald Trump, is determined to make American workers “the first beneficiaries of high-skilled jobs.” “We will continue to invest in our workforce and ensure fair competition for American labor,” she added.
Preliminary findings from the 175 investigations have revealed what the DOL described as a “bounty of concerns” regarding employer conduct. Officials discovered numerous discrepancies in Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) the mandatory filings employers submit before hiring foreign workers.
Investigators found that some listed job sites did not exist, while in other cases, H-1B workers were unaware of the positions they were supposedly hired to fill. In multiple instances, employers failed to provide the required notice to American employees about upcoming H-1B hires, or they submitted inaccurate job descriptions and pay details.
The investigations also uncovered cases where foreign professionals were paid less than what was stated in their LCAs, a violation that “undermines wage fairness for both visa holders and American workers,” the Labor Department said. Some employers were also found to have copied and pasted outdated job notices without properly updating them for current roles.
Among the most troubling revelations were reports of highly qualified foreign workers being underpaid relative to advertised job rates. The DOL noted that this wage manipulation “drives down salaries across the board,” forcing American workers with comparable qualifications to accept lower compensation to remain competitive.
In other cases, employers failed to inform the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when an H-1B employee was terminated creating long delays before the agency was notified. Some companies were also found engaging in “benching” a practice where foreign workers are left unpaid between projects, in violation of labor laws.
The Department of Labor’s sweeping enforcement campaign marks one of the most aggressive crackdowns on H-1B misuse in recent years. Officials say the initiative is designed not only to protect American jobs but also to restore integrity to a visa system long criticized for loopholes and exploitation.
“The message is clear,” Secretary Chavez-DeRemer said. “Employers who attempt to game the system will be held accountable. The H-1B visa program must serve its intended purpose to complement, not replace, the American workforce.”
The ongoing investigations are expected to continue into 2026, with the results likely to shape future US immigration and labor policy reforms under the administration’s “America First Employment Initiative.”