US Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that it has started 175 active investigations into alleged misuse of the H-1B visa program. DOL took to social media platform to confirm this development. “As part of our mission to protect American Jobs, we’ve launched 175 investigations into H-1B abuse. Under @POTUS and @SecretaryLCD’s leadership, we’ll continue taking action to put American Workers FIRST!” Wrote DOL in a post shared in X (formerly known as Twitter). For those unaware, this investigation is a part of Project Firewall which was launched by the Department of Labor in September this year. The program is designed to make sure that American workers are prioritised and foreign professionals are hired only when it’s absolutely necessary.Labor Secretary Lori Chaves-DeRemer also emphasised that the department’s commitment to “protecting the integrity of our immigration system and ensuring fair treatment for all workers.” She added that the investigations are just the beginning, stating, “We will continue to pursue every lead and use every resource to hold violators accountable”.

What is Project Firewall

As per the US Department of Labor, Project Firewall is an H-1B enforcement initiative that will safeguard the rights, wages, and job opportunities of highly skilled American workers by ensuring employers prioritize qualified Americans when hiring workers and holding employers accountable if they abuse the H-1B visa process.“As authorized by federal law, the department will conduct investigations of employers through Project Firewall to maximize H-1B program compliance. To achieve this goal, the Secretary of Labor will personally certify the initiation of investigations for the first time in the department’s history. This historic action leverages existing authority granted to the Secretary if reasonable cause exists that an H-1B employer not in compliance,” said DOL in a press statement.

Allegations: Wage theft, worker displacement, and LCA violations

According to a report by Fox News, the investigations carried out by DOL has already uncovered:* Over $15 million in unpaid wages owed to foreign workers* Improper Labor Condition Application (LCA) filings* Misrepresented worksite locations* Displacement of qualified U.S. workersAll these findings made by DOL suggest systemic issues in how some employers are using the H-1B program, which is intended to allow U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations when no qualified American workers are available.DOL also said that Employers found guilty of abuse may face:* Hefty fines* Back wage payments* Debarment from future visa programsThe DOL has also urged companies to review their compliance with H-1B regulations, particularly around remote work arrangements and wage standards.Project Firewall is part of the broader immigration enforcement agenda under US President Donald Trump, who has consistently advocated for stricter oversight of employment-based visa programs.