Republican lawmakers from Texas have urged the Trump administration to investigate alleged H-1B visa fraud in North Texas. They argue that such abuse harms American workers and undermines confidence in the US immigration system. The lawmakers, led by Representative Beth Van Duyne, called for a coordinated federal investigation into reported fraud activities in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
The concentration of these alleged activities in North Texas, including Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties, has raised concerns about localized exploitation of the system. The lawmakers emphasized that when visa pathways are manipulated at scale, it distorts local labor markets, suppresses wages, and erodes trust in lawful immigration processes.
Van Duyne highlighted recent investigative reporting that exposed what she termed as “flagrant abuse” of the H-1B visa program in North Texas. She expressed gratitude for her colleagues’ support in urging the Administration to take immediate action to investigate and prosecute these violations of immigration laws.
The lawmakers also referenced actions by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who initiated separate investigations into alleged H-1B abuse and labor displacement practices. State officials pointed out instances where companies allegedly replaced qualified Texas workers with lower-wage H-1B employees and mentioned accusations involving sham companies operating from residential addresses or unfinished buildings.
The Members of Congress called for a coordinated, interagency investigation into employers, third-party agents, and associated entities linked to the alleged fraud. They urged the administration to review current H-1B adjudication and verification procedures to identify weaknesses that may allow fraudulent job offers, wage misrepresentation, or improper labor condition applications. Additionally, they recommended stronger enforcement measures, including increased audits of H-1B sponsors and harsher penalties for entities engaging in fraudulent practices.
