The United States Department of Labor Commences Investigation into H-1B and PERM Visa Program Irregularities
美國勞工部開始調查 H-1B 與 PERM 簽證計劃之違規行為
Introduction
The Trump administration has initiated a comprehensive probe into alleged fraudulent activities within the H-1B and PERM employment visa systems to ensure the protection of the domestic labor market.
川普政府已啟動一項全面調查，針對 H-1B 與 PERM 就業簽證系統中涉嫌欺詐的活動，以確保保護國內勞動力市場。
Main Body
The investigation, coordinated by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, focuses on the alleged exploitation of visa programs designed to address genuine specialized labor shortages. The OIG has identified systemic irregularities, including fraudulent applications and coercive wage-kickback schemes, which purportedly enable the recruitment of foreign labor at sub-market rates. Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito indicated that the probe is informed by whistleblower testimony concerning high-volume users of these programs; specifically, Cognizant was cited as a subject of such discourse, although no formal charges have been filed against the entity.
此次調查由督察長辦公室 (OIG) 與打擊欺詐專案小組協調，重點在於調查涉嫌利用旨在解決真正專業勞動力短缺之簽證計劃的行為。OIG 已發現系統性違規，包括欺詐申請與強迫薪金回扣方案，據稱這些手段使得企業能以低於市場價格的率招募外國勞工。督察長 Anthony D'Esposito 指出，該調查是基於舉報人針對這些計劃大量使用者的證詞；其中 Cognizant 被提及為此類討論的對象，儘管目前尚未對該實體提起正式指控。
From a strategic perspective, Vice President JD Vance has framed this initiative as a necessary measure to prevent the depression of domestic wages and the misappropriation of taxpayer resources. The administration posits a causal link between certain foreign labor abuses and transnational criminal networks, including cartels. Given that Indian nationals constituted approximately 71% of approved H-1B beneficiaries in fiscal year 2024, the outcome of this inquiry possesses significant implications for bilateral labor dynamics between the United States and India. This regulatory intensification occurs amidst a broader legal context, following a judicial injunction against a proposed $100,000 application fee for new H-1B visas.
從戰略角度來看，副總統 JD Vance 將此舉定義為防止國內工資下降及防止納稅人資源被挪用的必要措施。政府認為某些外國勞工濫用行為與跨國犯罪網絡（包括卡特爾）之間存在因果關係。鑑於印度國民約佔 2024 財政年度獲批 H-1B 受益者的 71%，此次調查結果將對美國與印度之間的雙邊勞動力動態產生重大影響。此次監管強化發生在更廣泛的法律背景下，此前法院已針對擬定對新 H-1B 簽證徵收 10 萬美元申請費的提案發出禁制令。
Conclusion
The Department of Labor continues to execute subpoenas as part of its effort to preserve the integrity of the US skilled worker immigration system.
勞工部將繼續執行傳喚令，以維護美國高技能工人移民系統的誠信。
Vocabulary Learning
The Architecture of Nominalization and 'Institutional Weight'
To transition from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond describing actions and begin constructing states of being. The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs (actions) into nouns (concepts). This is the hallmark of high-level bureaucratic, legal, and academic English.
◈ The Linguistic Shift
Observe how the text avoids simple subject-verb-object constructions in favor of complex noun phrases. This removes the 'human' element and replaces it with 'institutional authority'.
| B2 approach (Action-oriented) | C2 approach (Concept-oriented) |
|---|---|
| The government is investigating fraud. | The administration has initiated a comprehensive probe into alleged fraudulent activities. |
| They want to protect the labor market. | ...to ensure the protection of the domestic labor market. |
| People are using programs too much. | ...whistleblower testimony concerning high-volume users of these programs. |
◈ Analysis of "The Substantive Noun"
Look at the phrase: "This regulatory intensification occurs amidst a broader legal context."
In a B2 sentence, you might say: "Regulations are getting stricter because of the legal situation."
C2 Breakdown:
- "Regulatory intensification": Instead of using the verb 'intensify', the author creates a noun phrase. This allows the 'intensification' to become the subject of the sentence, making the statement feel like an objective fact rather than a subjective observation.
- "Amidst a broader legal context": The use of amidst (rather than in) and context (rather than situation) elevates the register to a professional/scholarly level.
◈ Precision through Collocational Sophistication
C2 mastery is found in the 'tightness' of word pairings. Note these specific pairings from the text:
- Systemic irregularities (Not 'big mistakes', but flaws built into the system).
- Causal link (Not 'reason why', but a proven connection between cause and effect).
- Bilateral labor dynamics (Not 'how two countries work together', but the complex socio-economic exchange between two nations).
The takeaway: To write at a C2 level, stop focusing on who is doing what and start focusing on what phenomenon is occurring. Transform your verbs into nouns to create a tone of objective, intellectual distance.