The United States launched an inquiry on Wednesday into suspected fraud involving H-1B and PERM work visas at multiple firms. A federal labor official identified Indian IT company Cognizant as one of the entities under review. The Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General found evidence of widespread schemes in which employers and labor brokers filed false applications, imposed coercive wage arrangements on foreign workers, and displaced American employees with lower-paid labor. Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito stated that dozens of subpoenas have already been issued and that whistleblowers have referenced major companies including Cognizant in discussions about PERM and H-1B issues. The effort falls under the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud led by Vice President J D Vance. Officials said the abuses undermine programs meant to address real labor shortages and instead enrich violators at the expense of domestic jobs. The investigation aims to dismantle networks exploiting the guest worker system and to protect both foreign and American workers.
