WASHINGTON– U.S. immigration authorities are tightening oversight of the H-1B visa program and other legal immigration pathways, citing expanded fraud investigations, new regulatory limits, and a broader enforcement push detailed in a year-end review released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
USCIS said it has increased scrutiny across employment-based, student, and family-sponsored immigration categories, including through its largest enforcement effort to date, known as Operation Twin Shield. The agency said the operation uncovered widespread abuse of H-1B and student visa programs, as well as fraudulent marriage-based applications.
According to the review, the enforcement effort led to thousands of worksite inspections, nearly 1,500 in-person interviews, numerous benefit denials, and arrests tied to immigration fraud investigations.
USCIS said it has also revised rules governing employment authorization, ending automatic extensions for certain work permits while renewal applications are pending. In addition, the agency reduced the maximum validity of some employment authorization documents from five years to 18 months, allowing for more frequent screening and vetting.
The review highlighted a proposed rule that would prioritize H-1B visas for higher-skilled and higher-paid workers, a move the agency said is intended to protect wages, working conditions, and job opportunities for American workers. USCIS also announced a separate rule aimed at streamlining agricultural work visas to support the country’s farming sector.
Family-based immigration applications have also come under tighter examination. USCIS said it has enhanced screening procedures to verify that marriages and family relationships cited in applications are legitimate and not fraudulent attempts to obtain immigration benefits.
The measures reflect a broader policy shift under the Department of Homeland Security toward what officials described as an “America First” approach focused on public safety, national security, and system integrity.
In the review, USCIS said it referred more than 14,400 individuals to Immigration and Customs Enforcement since January 20 for public safety, national security, or fraud-related concerns. Among those referrals were 182 people identified as confirmed or suspected national security risks. The agency said coordination with law enforcement resulted in more than 2,400 arrests at USCIS field offices during the year.
Following a Nov. 26 attack involving an Afghan national, USCIS said it temporarily paused asylum processing for certain groups, ordered additional reviews of green card applications from designated high-risk countries, and halted processing of some immigration petitions from Afghanistan and other countries of concern. Officers were instructed to factor in country-specific risks when reviewing applications from 19 high-risk nations.
The agency also announced the launch of a new vetting center on Dec. 5 to strengthen application screening through advanced technology and closer coordination with law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
USCIS said it has made immigration fraud enforcement a top priority, reporting more than 29,000 fraud referrals since January 20. (Source: IANS)
