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US Vice President JD Vance called the H-1B visa programme “rife with fraud”, alleging that companies use it to undercut American workers and wages.
US Vice President JD Vance speaks about the H-1B visa programme.
US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday, October 8, criticised the H-1B visa programme, alleging that companies have misused the system to replace American workers with foreign employees and suppress wages.
His remarks came as the Trump administration announced a major crackdown on employment-based immigration, including the suspension of several major technology companies from the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme.
Vance Raises Concerns Over H-1B System
Speaking at a White House news conference in Washington on October 8, Vance said the H-1B programme was originally intended to help companies recruit highly skilled workers from abroad for positions that could not be filled by American workers.
“Unfortunately, the program has become rife with fraud over the last several years, probably the last several decades,” Vance said, arguing that the system has increasingly been misused.
He claimed that some companies advertise positions without receiving suitable responses from American workers and then use that as a basis to hire foreign workers through the H-1B system.
“The H-1B visa program is meant to allow companies to bring in really the best of the best from outside the United States of America, for positions that are completely impossible to fill with American workers. Unfortunately, the program has become rife with fraud over the last several years, probably the last several decades.”
Remarks Come Amid Major US Immigration Action
Vance’s comments came as the Trump administration announced the suspension of Microsoft and several other major technology and IT companies from the PERM programme, which is a key step for employers seeking to sponsor foreign workers for employment-based green cards.
The Labour Department said the action also covers major IT outsourcing companies including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini, while Microsoft and Adobe were suspended amid federal investigations. Officials cited alleged fraud and concerns over the displacement of American workers.
Vice President JD Vance on H1-B Visa Fraud:“Here’s the basic problem, something that we been working towards fixing in the Trump Administration for a long time. The H-1B visa program is meant to allow companies to bring and really the best of the best from outside the United States of America, for positions that are completely impossible to fill with American workers. Unfortunately, the program has become rife with fraud over the last several years, probably the last several decades.”
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) October 8, 2026
Claims Foreign Workers Are Being Exploited
Vance also argued that the issue affects H-1B workers themselves. He claimed that some foreign workers on the programme can become vulnerable to exploitation because their immigration status is linked to their employment.
He described such workers as “foreign indentured servants” and alleged that employers can use this vulnerability to mistreat employees while also undercutting the wages of American workers. During the same news conference, Vance alleged that Microsoft had replaced laid-off American workers with foreign workers through the system.
What Is The H-1B Programme?
The H-1B is a temporary US work visa that allows American employers to hire foreign workers for specialised occupations. The programme is widely used in sectors such as technology, engineering, healthcare and other highly skilled fields.
The system has long been debated in the US. Supporters argue that it allows companies to access specialised talent from around the world, while critics have raised concerns about its potential impact on American workers and wages.
Quick Answers
Ask News18US Vice President JD Vance criticized the H-1B visa programme as being rife with fraud, alleging that companies have misused the system to replace American workers with foreign employees, suppress wages, and exploit vulnerable workers whose immigration status is linked to their jobs. He stated that the system, originally intended for specialized recruitment, has been heavily abused.
Ask News18About the Author
Pragya Bahuguna is a digital journalist at News18.com, covering national and international news, including Indian politics and geopolitics, with an interest in environment and climate affairs. She hol…Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
October 08, 2026, 9:15 PM IST
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