Overview
- Project Firewall, launched in September, now encompasses at least 175 active probes tied to more than $15 million in calculated back wages, according to the agency.
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer is using a never-before-invoked authority to personally certify investigations in an effort to prioritize U.S. workers.
- Investigators report patterns that include pay below Labor Condition Application levels, nonexistent or misrepresented worksites on LCAs, benching without pay, and failures to notify USCIS after terminations.
- The White House has imposed a one-time $100,000 fee on new H‑1B petitions set to take effect in the next lottery, with USCIS clarifying it does not apply to changes of status or extensions.
- The department has escalated public messaging with a social media ad alleging program exploitation and spotlighting India’s large share, while employers and advocacy groups pursue legal challenges to the policy changes.