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Trump launches first sweeping probe into H-1B visa fraud, official names Cognizant - India Today The Donald Trump administration has launched its first sweeping investigation intoalleged fraud involving H-1B and PERM work visas, with a senior federal official naming IT services giant Cognizant while outlining the large-scale probe. US Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito said investigators had already issued dozens of summons as part of what he called the administration's most aggressive effort yet to tackle foreign labour fraud. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work permit that allows US employers to hire foreign professionals in specialised occupations. It is typically granted for three years and can be extended to a maximum of six years. The PERM programme, meanwhile, is the labour certification process employers must complete before sponsoring many foreign workers for permanent residency.(Screengrab: X/@DOLOIG) The announcement came ahead of Vice President JD Vance's fraud initiative event in Milwaukee, where the administration is expected to highlight its campaign against fraud and organised crime. The inspector general also revealed that investigators ha…

Trump administration to launch probe into Cognizant over H1B visa ... The US Labour Department has said it will launch a probe into H-1 B visa abuse by several companies, including Indian IT giant Cognizant. Speaking on Fox Business on Wednesday morning, Labour Department inspector general Anthony D’Esposito said that it would be the most aggressive action against foreign labour fraud. “We are going to take an aggressive action, what we believe is probably the most aggressive action against foreign labour fraud by an inspector general. We have already started to issue dozens of subpoenas. We are going to make sure that we track down every lead. We have whistleblowers talking about some of the biggest companies like Cognizant, who have been sort of in the chatter of issues like PREM and H1B visas,” D’Esposito said. The inspector general said that he would work closely with the US PresidentDonald Trump’s Fraud Task Force, which is headed by Vice PresidentJD Vance, to exhaust every lead in the probe. “The Fraud Task Force has been very clear. Vice President Vance has said there is no fraud too small and there is no fraud too large. It is another example where fraud is fueling vio…

US launches fresh H-1B visa fraud probe; Cognizant among IT firms under ... The United States has launched an investigation into alleged fraud involving H-1B and PERM work visas by multiple companies, with a senior federal official naming IT services major Cognizant among the companies under scrutiny. US Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito said investigators have already begun to issue dozens of subpoenas in relation to the fraud investigation. "We've already started to issue dozens of subpoenas; we are going to make sure that we track down every lead. We have whistleblowers talking about some of the biggest companies like Cognizant, who have been sort of, you know, in the chatter of issues with PERM and H-1B visas," D'Esposito told Fox Business on Wednesday. The action has been taken under the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud led by Vice President JD Vance. Meanwhile, Vance said theTrumpadministration would ensure that the H-1B visa system is not used in a way that hurts American workers. Speaking in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vance said the latest action was part of a wider crackdown on visa fraud, aimed at protecting taxpayer money and preventing the misuse of empl…

Trump administration to launch probe into Cognizant over H1B visa ‘fraud’ US Labour Department inspector general Anthony D’Esposito said that it would be the most aggressive action against foreign labour fraud.

Trump administration launches 175 probes into H-1B visa abuse By Yoshita SinghNew York, Nov 8 (PTI) The Trump administration has launched about 175 investigations into H-1B visa abuse, including lapses such as low wages, non-existent work sites and the practice of "benching" employees.According to the US Department of Labour, the probes were part of a broader effort for the protection of American jobs.“As part of our mission to protect American Jobs, we’ve launched 175 investigations into H-1B abuse,” the Labour Department said in a post on X Friday.It added that under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the agency will continue taking action to put American workers first.Chavez-DeRemer said in a post on X that the Labour Department “is using every resource at our disposal to put a stop to H-1B abuse and protect American Jobs. Under the leadership of @POTUS, we’ll continue to invest in our workforce and ensure high-skilled job opportunities go to American Workers FIRST!”The Trump administration has launched a massive crackdown to check abuse in the H-1B visa programme, which is used by companies, particularly technology firms, to empl…

US Launches H-1B Fraud Hunt, IT Giants Feel The Heat - Great Andhra The US Department of Labor is preparing a major investigation into alleged misuse of the H-1B and PERM visa programmes, with IT services companies including Cognizant expected to come under scrutiny, according to a Fox Business report. Labour Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito announced the probe during an interview with Fox Business on Wednesday. He described it as the Trump administration’s first major investigation into alleged H-1B and PERM fraud, labour trafficking and the displacement of American workers. “This is another example where fraud is fueling violent crime,” D’Esposito said. He further claimed that some cases involving foreign labour and visa abuse were linked to cartels and transnational gangs. “Much of the visa and human trafficking that we see when it comes to this foreign labour is tied to cartels and transnational gangs,” he said. The investigation could place fresh pressure on major IT outsourcing firms that rely heavily on foreign workers and employment-based immigration programmes. Further details on the scope of the probe and the companies likely to be examined are expected to…

Why Vance-led H-1B visa probe has put Indian IT giant Cognizant in ... Indian IT major Cognizant has come under the spotlight after the US department of labour launched a sweeping investigation into alleged fraud involvingH-1Band PERM work visa programmes, with a senior federal official naming the company as one of those being scrutinised. The probe, announced on Wednesday, is being carried out by the office of the inspector general (OIG) under the department of labor as part of the task force to eliminate fraud, an initiative led by US Vice PresidentJD Vance. Cognizant was specifically mentioned by labor department Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito while discussing the ongoing investigation. “We've already started to issue dozens of subpoenas; we are going to make sure that we track down every lead. We have whistleblowers talking about some of the biggest companies like Cognizant, who have been sort of, you know, in the chatter of issues with PERM and H-1B visas,” D'Esposito told Fox Business. His remarks have drawn attention becauseCognizantis one of the largest users of US work visas among Indian technology companies and employs thousands of professionals in the United S…

US launches major H-1B visa crackdown—and an Indian IT giant is named The US Department of Labour has launched a major investigation into alleged fraud involving the H-1B and PERM work visa programmes, with a senior federal official naming IndianIT giant Cognizantamong the companies being scrutinised. The investigation is being led by the Department of Labour’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), which said it has uncovered alleged schemes involving fraudulent visa applications, exploitation of foreign workers and practices that may have undercut American workers. The probe is part of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, led by US VicePresident JD Vance, news agency PTI reported, citing Fox Business. Speaking to Fox Business on Wednesday, Labour Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito said investigators had already begun issuing subpoenas and were pursuing multiple leads. “We’ve already started to issue dozens of subpoenas; we are going to make sure that we track down every lead. We have whistleblowers talking about some of the biggest companies like Cognizant, who have been sort of… in the chatter of issues with PERM and H-1B visas,” D’Esposito said. pic.twitter.com/NER6…

Trump Administration Launches H-1B Visa Fraud Investigation, Issues ... The Trump Administration is opening a new front in its immigration crackdown, launching what Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito described as its first major investigation into alleged H-1B and PERM visa fraud. Speaking Wednesday on Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria, D’Esposito said the probe will examine alleged visa abuse, labor trafficking and schemes that he said displace American workers. He also announced that investigators have already begun issuing dozens of subpoenas. “This is another example where fraud is fueling violent crime,” D’Esposito said. He argued that alleged fraud involving foreign labor is connected to broader criminal activity. “Much of the visa and the human trafficking that we see when it comes to this foreign labor is tied to cartels, is tied to transnational gangs,” he said. “This is the work that we should be doing, not only to make America safe again, but to make America more affordable again.” According to D’Esposito, the investigation is the latest step in the administration’s broader anti-fraud campaign and comes ahead of Vice President JD Vance’s fraud in…