DOJ Investigates H-1B Visa Discrimination Amid Stricter Visa Rules for International Students
August 30, 2025
This move to impose a four-year limit on visas for international students, especially targeting India as the leading source of students, may affect educational relations between the two countries.
The H-1B visa program is capped at 85,000 visas annually, allowing US companies to hire skilled foreign workers, but it faces criticism for enabling wage depression and job displacement.
The US Department of Justice, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, is actively investigating discrimination and unfair hiring practices related to the H-1B visa program, with the number of investigations continuing to grow.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is proposing stricter visa rules for international students, including a four-year cap on stays, which could impact the large Indian student population in the US.
While the goal is to promote fair hiring, there is concern that broad crackdowns might unfairly penalize genuine workers who depend on these visas for their livelihoods.
The DOJ is encouraging the public to report discrimination against American jobseekers and foreign visa holders, aiming to promote fair hiring practices.
Critics, including prominent figures like Howard Lutnick and Ron DeSantis, argue that the H-1B program is being misused by outsourcing firms to suppress wages and displace American workers, calling for prioritization of domestic employment.
Indian professionals constitute over 70% of H-1B visa approvals due to high demand and processing backlogs, making India the largest source of international students in the US.
The Department of Homeland Security is proposing reforms to the H-1B system, including replacing the current lottery with a weighted selection process to improve fairness and transparency.
Harmeet Dhillon has publicly criticized the broken H-1B system, emphasizing that employer sponsorship can lead to unfair treatment of foreign workers, and has called for reform.
This enforcement effort marks a potential shift in policy focus towards protecting American workers, though some warn it could be politicized to impose stricter restrictions on visa programs.
Dhillon confirmed that the Civil Rights Division has numerous open investigations into discriminatory hiring practices and is encouraging the public to report leads against employers.
The crackdown on visa abuses is supported by American workers and genuine H-1B applicants who believe employer prejudice and favoritism are harming their job prospects.
Summary based on 5 sources
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Sources

The Times Of India • Aug 29, 2025
H-1B visa bias? Assistant attorney general Dhillon probing cases; 'list continues to grow'
Free Press Journal • Aug 30, 2025
US Justice Department Cracks Down On H-1B Hiring Abuses, Urges Reports Of Bias Against Citizens
Daijiworld.com • Aug 30, 2025
US DOJ cracks down on H-1B hiring practices, urges reports of discrimination
Daijiworld.com • Aug 30, 2025
US DOJ cracks down on H-1B hiring practices, urges reports of discrimination