Trump Administration Launches First Major Probe Into H1-B Visa Fraud, Cognizant In Focus

Last Updated:July 09, 2026, 08:16 IST

Speaking to Fox News, a US official said that the H-1B and PERM visa frauds are "another example where fraud is fuelling violent crimes."

The Trump administration has launched its first major investigation into alleged fraud involving H-1B and PERM employment visas, with a senior federal official naming IT giant Cognizant among companies linked to concerns raised by the whistleblowers.

While speaking to Fox News, US Labour Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito said that multiple subpoenas have already been issued by the officials as part of the administration’s most aggressive investigation into suspected labour trafficking as well as the alleged abuse of foreign worker programmes.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work visa that allows US employers to hire foreign professionals in specialised occupations. Every year, thousands of Indian professionals secure jobs in the United States through the H-1B visa programme.

The H-1B visa is typically issued for an initial period of three years and can be extended for up to six years. The PERM programme, meanwhile, is the labour certification process that employers must complete before sponsoring many foreign workers for permanent residency in the United States.

Also Read: Student Visa Delays? US Embassy Reassures Indians Amid Proposed H-1B, Green Card Overhaul

Trump Admin Issues Dozens Of Summons

Speaking to Fox News, D’Esposito said, “Without a doubt… we are going to take an aggressive action, which we believe is probably the most aggressive action against foreign labour fraud by an Inspector General, this administration. We’ve already started to issue dozens of subpoenas."

He further promised to “track down every lead", and added that whistleblowers have raised concerns regarding “some of the biggest companies, like Cognizant."

The investigators will “work side by side with the president and vice president’s fraud task force" during the period of investigation, he said.

Meanwhile, the Labour Department said in an official statement that the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has uncovered multiple schemes in which employers and labour brokers allegedly submitted fraudulent applications and exploited foreign workers through coercive wage-kickback arrangements.

“These abuses undermine the integrity of Department of Labour programs designed to address genuine labour shortages – not to line the pockets of bad actors at the expense of American jobs," the statement said.

Also Read: Trump Admin Weighs Stricter H-1B, Green Card And Student Visa Rules: How It Could Affect Indians

Visa Fraud Linked To Violent Crimes: Trump Official

Speaking to Fox News, D’Esposito said that the H-1B and PERM visa frauds are “another example where fraud is fuelling violent crimes."

“Much of the visa and the human trafficking that we see when it comes to this foreign labour is tied to cartels, is tied to transnational gangs. And this is the work that we should be doing, not only to make America safe again, but to make America more affordable again," he added.

The official further stated that the alleged visa fraud spreads beyond labour-intensive professions.

“This is not just people working… in factories. These are people working in medical facilities, in doctors’ offices that are actually putting people in harm’s way. I mean, to the potential of causing death," D’Esposito said.

He added that the investigation will ensure the American workers do not lose out on job opportunities due to abuse of employment-based visa programmes.

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Prisha Vibhavari

Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st...Read More

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