{
  "id": 7986186,
  "title": "'Count your days': US Labor Department ramps up H-1B fraud probe amid increased scrutiny",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/count-your-days-us-labor-department-ramps-up-h-1b-fraud-probe-amid",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T07:58:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/count-your-days-us-labor-department-ramps-up-h-1b-fraud-probe-amid-increased-scrutiny-11789630081342.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The US Labor Department's Office of Inspector General (DOL OIG) is intensifying its probe into H-1B visa fraud, following a rise in whistleblower complaints and public tips. In a warning posted on X, Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito threatened, \"Count your days,\" to those involved in alleged fraudulent immigration schemes. The investigation, part of a broader effort to eliminate fraud, includes claims of fraudulent applications, wage-related kickbacks, labour brokers, and potential human trafficking. The probe extends beyond the technology industry, with healthcare and other sectors also under scrutiny. OIG investigators have been conducting on-ground checks, examining addresses linked to companies with numerous approved H-1B petitions, some of which appeared inactive with locked doors and lights off. The investigation has led to actions against individual companies, such as the suspension of H-1B applications at Cognizant and Cloudera. Cloudera's PERM applications were also suspended for 180 days following evidence of a recruitment process that prevented qualified US workers from applying for technology positions. The broader probe is ongoing and not yet determining the guilt or wrongdoing of the entities involved.",
  "summary": "The US Labour Department’s H-1B fraud investigation is expanding beyond the technology sector, with whistleblower tips and field inspections helping investigators identify suspected abuses involving employers, recruiters and labour brokers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}