How Trump’s Project Firewall will impact H-1B – From visas to deportations

Financial Express India ^ | 9/30/2025 | Aditi

[marcusmaximus]

Project Firewall targets H-1B visa abuse, increasing enforcement and compliance checks for employers and immigrants.

-snip-

Project Firewall impact on immigrants

For H-1B workers already in the US, Project Firewall may come with a whole package of uncertainty. Past practices suggest authorities will conduct unannounced site visits to check job duties, wages, and work locations. Even remote work or role changes could trigger compliance checks. Investigators are expected to focus on:

Whether H-1B workers are paid at least the higher of prevailing or actual wages

Misclassification of jobs into lower-paid categories

Worksite accuracy, including remote work compliance

Proper posting of notices and maintenance of Public Access Files

Whether terminated H-1B workers were offered return transportation

Check if bonuses, benefits, and other forms of compensation are at least equal to what is offered to comparable US employees.

The DOJ may pursue visa fraud, false statements, or mail and wire fraud if companies are found to have knowingly filed inaccurate petitions.

Companies will need to double-check compliance systems, while immigrants could see more hurdles in the already competitive H-1B process.

Retaliation and whistleblower protection

Project Firewall will also look at whether employees who spoke up or cooperated with the Wage and Hour Division faced any backlash. Any retaliation can hit employers with hefty fines and damage their reputation, so protecting whistleblowers is now the priority.

[gawatchman]

End H-1B. America for Americans.

[metmom]

Preach it!

[kiryandil]

[chrisser]

I’d prefer Project Fire-M-All, but this one is a good start.