Published : 05 Oct 2026, 12:59 PM
Updated : 05 Oct 2026, 12:59 PM
The Trump administration is signalling intensified action on foreign-worker visa programmes, with US Labor Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito saying a “big week” lies ahead as scrutiny of employment-based immigration grows.
“Big week ahead on the foreign labour visa front,” D’Esposito wrote on X. “We’re taking LFG to a whole new level. American jobs. American workers.”
D’Esposito did not identify a specific visa programme, employer or investigation in the post.
His remarks come amid broader administration efforts to tighten the H-1B visa system and increase scrutiny of employers sponsoring foreign workers, News18 reports.
On Sept 18, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Departments of State, Labor and Homeland Security to consider whether employers sponsoring H-1B workers had carried out or planned layoffs affecting similarly situated US workers.
The order also directed the Labor Department to review previously filed labour-condition applications for possible violations.
Vance Calls H-1B Programme ‘Completely Broken’
US Vice-President JD Vance on Oct 2 described the H-1B visa programme as “completely broken” and said he would support eliminating it, arguing that companies had used the system to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour.
In a video shared on X, Vance said the programme had been “totally taken advantage of” by technology companies, accounting firms and other businesses.
He distinguished between bringing highly skilled foreign professionals to the United States and using the programme primarily to reduce labour costs, the report said.
“If you’re going to bring in an accountant making $45,000 a year to replace an accountant who is an American making $60,000 a year, that’s not you using the programme to bring in a genius,” Vance said.
“That’s you destroying American jobs and defrauding the American people,” he added.
Vance also defended the White House’s $100,000 payment requirement for certain H-1B petitions involving workers outside the United States.
The administration renewed the requirement in September for another year, with exceptions for cases determined to be in the national interest.
It has also moved towards a weighted H-1B selection system that gives greater weight to higher-paid positions.
Vance, however, said such measures might not address what he considers deeper problems with the programme.
“My view is the H-1B programme is completely broken, and I’d be very supportive of just eliminating it,” he said.
“But while we have it, what we have to do is protect American workers.”
$100,000 H-1B Fee Faces Court Challenges
The administration’s $100,000 H-1B fee has faced several legal challenges.
On Oct 1, US District Judge Haywood Gilliam blocked the administration from enforcing the fee, ruling that federal agencies had not followed required rulemaking procedures. It was the second federal court to block the measure.
The administration has argued that the fee is intended to curb abuses of the H-1B system and protect American workers.
Bangladesh among Countries Facing Visa Bond Rule
Separately, the US State Department has designated 50 countries whose citizens may be required to post bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 when applying for B1/B2 business and tourist visas.
According to ANI, India is exempt from the requirement, while Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are among the countries subject to the policy.
Bangladesh and Nepal have been covered by the programme since Jan 21, while Bhutan was added from Jan 1.
Under the scheme, consular officers determine the bond amount during visa interviews.
The State Department said the programme operates under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and relies on US government visa-overstay data.
