Van Duyne Introduces H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act Raising Penalties for Abuse in the H-1B Visa Program

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24) introduced H.R. 10643, the H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act, to increase penalties for willful H-1B violations, extend minimum sponsorship bans, and strengthen fines for immigration document fraud.

"When a business can lie to the government and push American workers aside for cheaper labor, and the worst it faces is a $5,000 fine, many view that as the cost of doing business," said Rep. Van Duyne. "The H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act changes the penalties. American jobs should go to American workers, and fraudsters should face real accountability for their actions."

Earlier this year, Rep. Van Duyne led a request with fellow North Texas Members of Congress, Reps. Pat Fallon (R-TX-04), Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13), and Brandon Gill (R-TX-26) to Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, then Acting-Secretary Sonderling, and Secretary Mullin urging the Trump Administration to investigate H-1B fraud in North Texas.

As Vice President Vance recently said, Congress needs to act to fix the H-1B visa program. The H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act does that by raising penalties so violators face real consequences.

Since the request, Rep. Van Duyne has met with administration officials on what can be done:

• Received confirmation from Secretary Mullin that as of June 2026 nearly 60% of H-1B fraud investigations of employers nationwide are concentrated in the North Texas region.

• In August, Labor Department Inspector General D'Esposito visited North Texas and found nearly 500 instances of likely H-1B visa fraud in one building alone. At the addresses he visited where an H-1B application had been approved, no one answered the door.

"I'm thankful for the Administration's quick response," said Rep. Van Duyne. "American workers should not lose opportunities because an employer is willing to break the law to get cheaper labor. If a business decides it makes more economic sense to break the law and kick American workers to the curb, they should feel major pain for undercutting our economy and our hardworking employees."

Summary and Key Provisions:

The H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act increases civil penalties for willful, serious H-1B violations, extends minimum sponsorship bans, and strengthens monetary fines for immigration document fraud. The bill gives federal enforcement agencies stronger tools to hold violators accountable, with the highest H-1B penalties reserved for violations involving displacement of U.S. workers.

• Higher penalties for "willful violations"

• • Raises the maximum civil penalty from $5,000 to $100,000 for covered willful H-1B violations, such as lying about the job being performed or underpaying a worker.

• Stronger consequences for worker displacement

• • Raises the maximum civil penalty from $35,000 to $250,000 for violations involving the willful displacement of U.S. workers.

• Longer sponsorship bans

• • Increases the minimum ban of H-1B sponsorship from two to five years for a serious, willful violation, and from three to ten years for violations additionally involving worker displacement.

• Tougher immigration document fraud provisions

• • Raises civil penalties to a minimum of $1000 and a maximum of $10,000 per document, and from a minimum of $20,000 to a maximum of $50,000 per document for violations after a prior order. These penalties apply to covered immigration document fraud, including H-1B cases.

The H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act is co-sponsored by: U.S. Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Pat Fallon (R-TX-04), Brandon Gill (R-TX-26), Keith Self (R-TX-03), and Pete Sessions (R-TX-17).

EXCLUSIVE: The Blaze first reported on this story. Read it HERE.

Click HERE to read the bill text.

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