WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General announced a joint investigation into alleged fraud involving foreign worker visas in the United States. At an event focused on combating fraud held Wednesday in Milwaukee, Vance said labor officials have issued numerous subpoenas as part of efforts to ensure that "American jobs go to American workers and not foreign fraudsters."

The probe centers on the misuse of worker visa programs, particularly the H-1B visa, which allows non-citizens with specialized skills to work in the U.S. The Department of Labor’s Inspector General, Anthony D’Esposito, indicated that beneficiaries of these visas have been implicated in schemes defrauding the medical sector of hundreds of millions of dollars. He also described instances of forced labor and human trafficking in some visa-related operations.

According to D’Esposito, investigations have revealed widespread fraudulent practices by employers and labor brokers, including the submission of false applications, coercive wage kickbacks extracted from foreign workers, and the flooding of labor markets with below-standard wages that negatively impact American employees.

The Department of Homeland Security has estimated that up to 21% of H-1B visa petitions may be fraudulent. The H-1B program is primarily utilized by firms seeking highly skilled workers, with the largest share—approximately 73%—of recipients originating from India. Most of these workers hold at least a master’s degree and frequently occupy roles in programming, data communications, and technical support, according to data from the Pew Research Center.

States receiving the highest volumes of H-1B petitions include California, New York, Illinois, and Texas. The investigation reflects an ongoing government effort under the current administration to tighten oversight of foreign labor programs and address concerns about job displacement and fraud.