A fresh warning from JD Vance amid a sweeping H-1B probe in US

As US authorities launch a sweeping probe into the H-1B visa programme over alleged fraud and links to criminal networks, Vice President JD Vance has issued a fresh warning to what he described as "foreign fraudsters" accused of exploiting the temporary work visa programme to undercut American workers.

Speaking at the Wisconsin Air Guard's 128th Air Refuelling Wing's base during a stop in the city of Milwaukee in Wisconsin state on Wednesday, Vance announced that the Labour Department had issued dozens of subpoenas and opened multiple investigations into alleged H-1B visa fraud.

According to a report in the Washington DC-based news outlet, The Hill, the VP was in Milwaukee to tout the administration’s crackdown on fraud, and announce the Labour Department's fresh investigations into foreigners involved in the H-1B visa program.

"Here’s a simple principle, ladies and gentlemen: American jobs ought to go to American workers and not foreign fraudsters, and the Department of Labour is fighting back against it," Vance was quoted as saying by The Hill, adding that "Big corporations and fraudsters overseas are using this programme to undercut the wages of American workers. If you are trying to take advantage of that visa program, you are not allowed into the US."

During his speech, Vance also accused Democrats of failing to tackle fraud, claiming without presenting specific evidence that they had ignored abuse of government programmes. “Not a single congressional Democrat stood up and said we are going to fight back against fraud, and that’s the problem with modern congressional Democrats,” The Hill quoted him as saying.

He also claimed that the Trump administration had, throughout its tenure, saved "billions and billions of dollars" that he alleged would otherwise have gone to fraudsters. However, he did not specify who these alleged fraudsters were or provide evidence that billions had been embezzled from the US government.

BIG CRACKDOWN ON H-1B PROGRAMME IN US

US Vice President JD Vance's warning comes as US authorities launch a sweeping investigation into alleged fraud involving the H-1B and PERM work visa programmes.

Labour Department Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito told the New York Post that the visas had allegedly been exploited to defraud the healthcare industry of "hundreds of millions" of dollars, as well as other employment sectors, with some schemes allegedly involving forced-labour networks and human traffickers.

According to the Department of Labour's Office of Inspector General, investigators have uncovered "widespread schemes" in which employers and labour brokers allegedly submitted fraudulent applications, exploited foreign workers through coercive wage-kickback arrangements, and undercut American workers by flooding the labour market with below-wage labour.

D'Esposito cited Department of Homeland Security assessments claiming that up to 21% of H-1B petitions were fraudulent, reported The New York Post.

The inspector general also revealed that investigators had received information involving "some of the biggest companies", specifically mentioning IT giant Cognizant while discussing concerns surrounding permanent residency sponsorships and H-1B visas.

"We have whistle-blowers talking about some of the biggest companies, like Cognizant... and we are going to work side by side with the president and vice president's fraud task force to exhaust every lead," he told FOX Business on Wednesday.

The H-1B visa programme allows US employers to hire foreign professionals in specialised occupations, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Indian nationals account for roughly 70% of H-1B approvals in recent years. The Trump administration has pursued multiple changes to the programme, including a now-blocked $100,000 application fee that is currently under appeal.

- Ends