2 weeks ago
Investigators probe H-1B fraud in Dallas linked to 500+ petitions
The United States lets companies hire workers from other countries for special jobs using a permit called the H-1B visa.
Some companies may be cheating the system by claiming jobs exist when they really don't.
Special government investigators went to Dallas, Texas, to check on businesses connected to more than 500 approved visa requests.
They found many offices locked, dark, or empty during their visits.
That doesn't prove the companies did anything wrong, but it makes investigators want to look more closely.
The inspectors want to make sure the companies really exist and that the workers truly have jobs there.
They are checking things like pay, job duties, and whether the company really employs the worker.
This big check is happening all over the country, not just in Dallas.
The government says it wants to keep the program fair and protect American workers.
Companies caught breaking the rules could lose their visas or even face legal trouble.
The US Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General (OIG), led by Inspector General Anthony P. D'Esposito, conducted site checks at Dallas business locations linked to more than 500 approved H-1B petitions.
Several offices visited were found locked, dark, or showing little visible activity, though the OIG said these observations alone do not establish fraud.
The Dallas action is part of a nationwide anti-fraud initiative announced in July 2026 in coordination with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, backed by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Investigators are checking whether sponsoring companies actually operate at the petition addresses and whether workers' salaries, job duties, and employer-employee relationships match USCIS filings.
The enforcement drive could impact Indian IT professionals and outsourcing companies, the largest users of H-1B visas, and may lead to petition revocations or prosecutions of suspected shell companies.
- Who
- The US Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, led by Inspector General Anthony P. D'Esposito.
- What
- Field inspections of Dallas business locations linked to more than 500 approved H-1B petitions as part of an H-1B fraud investigation.
- Where
- Dallas, Texas, United States.
- When
- August 2026, announced via a press release on August 13, 2026; the broader nationwide initiative was first announced in July 2026.
- Why
- To determine whether businesses and H-1B employment arrangements meet programme requirements and to protect the integrity of the H-1B system and American workers.
Key facts
- Agency
- US Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL OIG)
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Petitions linked
- More than 500 approved H-1B applications
- Press release date
- August 13, 2026
- Nationwide initiative announced
- July 2026
- Coordinating body
- White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud
- Backed by
- President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance
- Reporting channel
- OIG hotline and website for suspected fraud, waste, or abuse
Quotes
Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito
Head of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General
“"He said the investigation was not simply about checking paperwork but about protecting the programme’s integrity and putting American workers first."”
financialexpress.com
“"When the system is abused, it is ordinary American workers who bear the cost."”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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