Cracking Down on H-1B Visa Abuse: Vance Says 'American Jobs Belong to American Workers, Not Foreign Fraudsters'

U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced on the 9th that the U.S. Department of Labor has formally launched a large-scale investigation into suspected abuse of the H-1B work visa program, having already issued dozens of subpoenas to multiple entities suspected of exploiting the system to lower American workers’ wages, illegally obtain visa eligibility, and related fraudulent activities.

Vance stated that the U.S. government will continue strengthening enforcement of the work visa system to ensure American companies prioritize hiring domestic workers rather than allowing foreigners to gain employment through loopholes. He emphasized, 'American jobs belong to American workers, not foreign fraudsters.'

On the day of his remarks during a visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vance confirmed that investigators have issued dozens of subpoenas to various related entities to gather evidence of suspected violations.

He highlighted that one focus of the government’s investigation is whether large corporations and foreign individuals are circumventing the original intent of the H-1B program by importing foreign professionals to reduce labor costs, thereby negatively impacting American workers’ employment and wage levels.

Vance stated, 'Some large companies and foreign fraudsters are using this system to undermine American workers’ wages. If anyone intends to use this visa program for illegal purposes, they should not be allowed into the United States.'

The H-1B work visa is one of the primary U.S. work visas for skilled foreign professionals, allowing U.S. employers to hire foreign nationals with specialized expertise, typically requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher. Eligible positions include software engineers, IT professionals, scientists, physicians, researchers, accountants, and other roles requiring advanced knowledge and technical skills.

For years, the H-1B program has served as a key hiring channel for the U.S. tech and healthcare industries and high-level professionals, but it has also sparked ongoing controversy. Critics argue that some companies excessively rely on H-1B visas to hire foreign workers, even using outsourcing firms or labor brokers to bypass the spirit of the program, replacing American workers at lower labor costs—prompting calls for stronger government oversight.

Vance linked this investigation to the Trump administration’s recent anti-fraud policies. He stated that the Trump administration successfully prevented numerous fraud cases through enhanced enforcement, saving the federal government billions of dollars in losses. In contrast, Democratic lawmakers have failed to take proactive action on these issues.

He criticized, 'Not a single Democratic member of Congress has stepped forward to fight fraud. This is one of the biggest problems with today’s Democratic Party in Congress.'

Beyond criticizing Democrats’ stance on fraud, Vance extended the discussion to immigration policy and government welfare systems. He noted that his grandparents were typical blue-collar Democratic supporters but would no longer recognize today’s Democratic policies.

Vance said his grandparents would not support a party that prioritizes taxpayer funds for undocumented immigrants over hardworking American seniors who qualify for benefits under the law. He further criticized that Democrats are raising taxes while directing more public resources to those suspected of fraud, rather than protecting law-abiding taxpayers.

He said, 'They wouldn’t support a party that raises your taxes and gives more money to fraudsters. Nor would they support a party that rewards fraudsters instead of sending them to prison.'