‘Put our workers First’: US tightens H-1B visa scrutiny to protect ‘American jobs’

In its continuing efforts to enhance the scrutiny of the H-1B visa programme, the US Department of Labour has now launched a new campaign to protest ‘American jobs’. Under Project Firewall, a H-1B visa enforcement framework launched in September, the US government is going to focus on companies misusing the H-1B visa programme.

The Project Firewall was introduced in September 2025 and enables the DOL to investigate the use of H-1B visas without waiting for official employee complaints.

The USDOL has launched a concerted social media campaign, with several posts on X in the last 15 days that specifically mention H-1B visa abuse and the need to ‘protect American jobs.’

“AMERICANS FIRST! @SecretaryLCD is using every tool available to crack down on companies’ abuse of the H-1B visa. It’s part of @POTUS’ mission to protect American Jobs and put our workers first,” USDOL’s latest post on Saturday read.

AMERICANS FIRST! @SecretaryLCD is using every tool available to crack down on companies’ abuse of the H-1B visa.

It’s part of @POTUS’ mission to protect American Jobs and put our workers First. pic.twitter.com/31H5dqfdrZ

— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) October 31, 2025

On Oct. 30, the Department of Labour also released a new video highlighting abuse of the H-1B visa programme by many companies. In the US, 72% of visa holders are Indians, followed by Chinese at 12%, the video highlighted. The USDOL claimed that due to widespread misuse of the H-1B visa, jobs have been replaced by foreign workers, depriving young Americans of the American Dream.

“Under @POTUS and @SecretaryLCD’s leadership, we’re holding companies accountable for their abuse—and recapturing the American Dream for the AMERICAN PEOPLE,” the post read.

Young Americans have had the American Dream stolen from them, as jobs have been replaced

by foreign workers due to rampant abuse of the H-1B visa.

Under @POTUS and @SecretaryLCD’s leadership, we’re holding companies accountable for their abuse—and recapturing the American Dream… pic.twitter.com/x3lqJS9CyG

— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) October 30, 2025

“The days of employers abusing H-1B Visas are over. Introducing PROJECT FIREWALL—our plan to ensure high-skilled jobs go to AMERICANS FIRST,” USDOL wrote in a Post in September.

The days of employers abusing H-1B Visas are over.

Introducing PROJECT FIREWALL—our plan to ensure high-skilled jobs go to AMERICANS FIRST ???????? pic.twitter.com/XPwBJSZfto

— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) September 19, 2025

In another tweet, the Department of Labour stated that the American people are the rightful owners of the American Dream. The goal of Project Firewall is to ensure that American jobs are awarded to Americans first and that the American Dream is restored.

The American Dream belongs to the American People.

The process is in place and the mission is set—Project Firewall will restore the American Dream by ensuring American Jobs go to AMERICANS FIRST. pic.twitter.com/gdV8WWtIoj

— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) October 23, 2025

The Trump Administration’s heightened scrutiny of H-1B visa violations comes amid recent layoffs across leading US companies. Prominent companies like Amazon and UPS have announced job cuts of thousands of Americans. Some officials attribute the account of domestic job relocation to the use of H-1B visas, according to Newsweek.

Project Firewall represents a paradigm shift in US immigration policy towards highly skilled workers. The Labour Department can now investigate H-1B visa use on its own for the first time without waiting for worker complaints, changing the enforcement model from reactive to proactive.

This shift has far-reaching implications: Businesses are now more exposed to previous filings; American and foreign workers are subject to higher scrutiny of pay and employment placements; and the economy as a whole may be impacted as more businesses consider shifting jobs abroad.

Project Firewall sends a ‘clear message’ that “compliance with H-1B programme requirements is not optional,” according to Kate Kalmykov, co-chair of Global Immigration and Compliance Practice at Greenberg Traurig.

Companies also face penalties for wage- or role-shifting abuses, under the Project Firewall norms, the Newsweek report added.

“Project Firewall is one of the most aggressive H-1B enforcement initiatives in more than a decade … Employers might expect deeper, faster, and more coordinated investigations that go beyond traditional wage-and-hour audits,” Kate Kalmykov was quoted as saying by Newsweek.

Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered his Board of Governors for state colleges to cease hiring H-1B visa holders completely and give preference to American graduates.

“We will not tolerate H-1B abuse in Florida institutions. That’s why I have directed the Florida Board of Governors to end this practice,” DeSantis said in a statement.