Overview
- Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer says she is personally certifying H‑1B investigations for the first time to safeguard U.S. jobs.
- The department reports more than $15 million in calculated back wages tied to current cases, citing underpayment, nonexistent worksites, delayed termination notices to USCIS, and illegal benching.
- Project Firewall began in September to target employer violations and tighten compliance in specialty‑occupation hiring.
- USCIS has clarified that the $100,000 one‑time charge does not apply to change‑of‑status requests or extensions of stay.
- Business groups and other plaintiffs, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have filed lawsuits challenging the fee and related reforms, and political opposition has emerged at the state level.