{"id":2514427,"date":"2025-11-25T13:57:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T18:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/labor-department-unveils-project-firewall-to-reprimand-employers-who-abuse-h-1b-visas\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T14:00:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T19:00:01","slug":"labor-department-unveils-project-firewall-to-reprimand-employers-who-abuse-h-1b-visas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/labor-department-unveils-project-firewall-to-reprimand-employers-who-abuse-h-1b-visas\/","title":{"rendered":"Labor Department unveils &#8216;Project Firewall&#8217; to reprimand employers who &#8216;abuse&#8217; H-1B visas"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flabor-department-unveils-project-firewall-to-reprimand-employers-who-abuse-h-1b-visas%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2514427&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The U.S.Department of Labor has launched &#8220;Project Firewall,&#8221; an initiative aimed at penalizing employers who misuse the H-1B visa program and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-dakota-governor-tells-california-gunmakers-and-owners-to-make-the-move-to-her-state\/\" title=\"South Dakota governor invites California gunmakers and owners to relocate.\">promoting job opportunities<\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-blasts-bernie-sanders-build-back-better-immigration-proposals-will-harm-american-workers-take-away-opportunity-from-american-kids\/\" title=\"Republican Blasts Bernie Sanders: \u2018Build Back Better\u2019 Immigration Proposals Will \u2018Harm ..., Take Away Opportunity From\u2019 American Kids\">qualified american workers<\/a>. The plan involves investigating abuses, imposing fines, recovering back wages, and temporarily barring offenders from the foreign labor visa program. It also includes coordination with other government agencies to detect fraud and discrimination against American employees. The move follows recent reforms initiated by former President Donald Trump, who criticized the program for displacing American workers and suppressing wages. The majority of H-1B visa holders come from India and China. The Department of Labor will lead enforcement efforts in collaboration with agencies like the equal Employment Opportunity Commission and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to ensure compliance with existing laws and prevent discriminatory hiring practices.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Labor Department unveils &lsquo;Project Firewall&rsquo; to reprimand employers who &lsquo;abuse&rsquo; H-1B visas<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2400527\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The United States Department of Labor unveiled the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/newsroom\/releases\/osec\/osec20250919\">Project Firewall<\/a> plan on Tuesday to reprimand employers accused of abusing the H1-B worker visa and incentivize them to prioritize qualified American workers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The department stated that its plan will root out fraud, encourage employers to offer job opportunities, and safeguard the rights and wages of &ldquo;highly skilled American workers.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3898479\/protests-amplified-in-schools-kkk-comparison-criticized\/\">Protests amplified in schools; KKK comparison criticized<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3898241\/scott-bessent-mamdani-clearly-leader-democratic-party-after-great-campaign\/\">Bessent says Mamdani is &#8216;clearly&#8217; a leader in Democratic Party after &#8216;great campaign&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3898408\/mark-kelly-democrats-turn-seditious-six-accusations-fundraising-boon\/\">Mark Kelly and Democrats turn &#8216;seditious six&#8217; accusations into fundraising boon<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The department announced that it would open investigations, impose fines, collect back wages that they owe to workers, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >assess civil money penalties<\/a>, and &ldquo;temporarily restrict employers from engaging with the foreign labor visa program in the future.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The department added that it will additionally share information and coordinate with relevant government agencies to identify and combat alleged <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ice.gov\/news\/releases\/tracy-california-resident-convicted-multiple-counts-h-1b-visa-fraud-aggravated\">fraud<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.duanemorris.com\/alerts\/it_firm_found_liable_intentional_discrimination_against_class_terminated_non_indian_1024.html\">discrimination<\/a> against American workers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Gov. Ron DeSantis <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/world-news\/h-1b-total-scam-us-governor-targets-indians-over-visa-allotment-9172273\">has called the H1-B program<\/a> a &ldquo;total scam,&rdquo; accusing employers of laying off American workers while at the same time hiring new employees on the visas.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The department&rsquo;s plan comes after President Donald Trump began to reform the H-1B visa program in September, after he signed an executive order that instructed the Department of Homeland Security to change the registration fee for the visa to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3816221\/trump-to-charge-100k-fee-for-h-1b-visas\/\">$100,000.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This program has been abused for too long,&rdquo; Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/editorials\/3821646\/trump-protects-american-workers-with-h1b-reforms\/\">said<\/a>, adding that the program has &ldquo;displaced&rdquo; American workers and suppressed wages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s time to fix it for our people,&rdquo; the president added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The majority of people who are employed under the visa <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2025\/03\/04\/what-we-know-about-the-us-h-1b-visa-program\/#:~:text=India%20is%20the%20top%20country,held%20a%20computer%2Drelated%20job.\">come from India<\/a>, at 73%, according to Pew Research Center. The second-highest country with H1-B hires is China at 12%. Business leaders and visa holders outside of the country panicked after the news was announced in September, which led to the White House <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/09\/20\/donald-trump-h1b-visas-overhaul-00574345\">clarifying that the new restrictions <\/a>would only apply to future applicants, not those already working in the U.S. and temporarily out of the country.<\/p>\n<p>The Labor Department&rsquo;s plan will be spearheaded by the department&rsquo;s Office of Immigration Policy, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/eta\">Employment and Training Administration<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/whd\">Wage and Hour Division<\/a>, which have been directed by the department&rsquo;s Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to collaborate with federal partners to ensure that existing laws are properly upheld.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Those federal patterns include the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/crt\">Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice<\/a>, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/\">Equal Employment Opportunity Commission<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/\">U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;By sharing data, clarifying employer obligations, and aligning enforcement tools, we are better positioned to prevent discriminatory hiring practices and protect labor market integrity,&rdquo; Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling stated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3868004\/ron-desantis-florida-university-leaders-stop-issuing-h1b-visas\/\"><strong>DESANTIS TELLS FLORIDA UNIVERSITY LEADERS TO STOP ISSUING H-1B VISAS FOR JOBS THAT AMERICANS CAN DO&nbsp;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Employers who currently offer <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/3401368\/h-1b-visas-how-a-good-idea-went-bad\/\">H-1B visas<\/a> can access the department&rsquo;s Wage and Hour Division&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/whd\/immigration\/h1b\">H-1B compliance assistance resources<\/a> to better understand how to comply with existing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3864148\/government-shutdown-halts-visa-permanent-resident-approvals\/\">laws<\/a>, the department stated in a press release.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;With the scale of unlawful anti-American discrimination we&rsquo;re seeing, robust investigation and enforcement &ndash; within the EEOC and with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latest-assaults-on-ice-agents-nebraska-glenn-valley-foods-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Latest assaults on ICE agents: Nebraska Glenn Valley Foods - Washington Examiner\">federal partners &#038;ndash<\/a>; is essential to protecting America&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3491829\/producer-protection-in-visa-program-led-by-carolinas-congressmen\/\">workforce<\/a>,&rdquo; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Andrea Lucas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Labor Dept launches &#8216;Project Firewall&#8217; to curb H-1B visa abuse<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4015,"featured_media":2514428,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/H-1B-visas-visa-immigration-b15.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[67676,58708,42046,66706,66113],"class_list":["post-2514427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-employer-accountability","tag-h-1b-visas","tag-labor-department","tag-project-firewall","tag-visa-abuse"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/H-1B-visas-visa-immigration-b15.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2514427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4015"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2514427"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2514427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2514431,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2514427\/revisions\/2514431"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2514428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2514427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2514427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2514427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}