Labor Department Probes Nine Universities Over J-1 Visas

The Department of Labor is investigating nine universities over alleged misuse of J-1 exchange visas, and its inspector general said subpoenas have been issued to the schools. The investigation is examining whether visa abuse, improper financial relationships or foreign influence are compromising federally funded research, officials said Thursday, October 8. The universities are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, the University of Pittsburgh, the California Institute of Technology, Arizona State University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Davis. J-1 visas are used for exchange visitors, including researchers, scholars and students. Universities rely on the program to bring international researchers to the United States. Vice President JD Vance alleged that the universities use J-1 visa holders to reduce labor costs and undercut wages for American graduate students and researchers. He said the schools employ researchers on J-1 visas for federally funded grant work at a rate of 61, compared with a national average of 38. The figures were reported without units, and the administration did not provide supporting data in the announcement.