A new Republican bill in the US House would sharply increase penalties for employers found to have committed serious H-1B visa violations, raising the maximum fine from $35,000 to $250,000 as the Trump administration and lawmakers intensify scrutiny of the foreign-worker program.
The proposal comes amid a broader push to tighten oversight of H-1B visas, which allow US employers to hire foreign workers for specialty occupations. Van Duyne has argued that stronger penalties are needed to deter employers from abusing the program and to protect US workers. The proposed legislation arrives as the administration pursues several changes to the H-1B program.
A $100,000 payment imposed in 2025 on certain H-1B workers entering the US was struck down by a federal judge in June, with the administration appealing the ruling. Separately, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $103,265 fee on certain cap-subject H-1B petitions, to be paid by employers in addition to existing filing fees. The administration has also proposed changes to H-1B selection and sought to end a rule that allows certain foreign workers to remain in the US for up to 60 days after losing their jobs.
Van Duyne said the measure is intended to impose tougher financial consequences on employers that deliberately violate H-1B rules.
She has previously called for investigations into possible H-1B fraud in North Texas .
