Nine Universities Face Federal Probe Over J-1 Visa Use

At nine universities, federal investigators are looking into whether J-1 visas helped fill research jobs at a rate of 61%, compared with 38% nationally. Vice President JD Vance said the gap suggested foreign researchers may be hired to undercut the pay of American graduate students and researchers. The schools named include Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, MIT and UC Davis. Those are allegations, not findings of wrongdoing. ^4,6

The Department of Labor is leading the investigation, which Vance announced at a Washington press conference on October 8. Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito said inquiries had begun and subpoenas had been issued to the universities. The other schools named are the University of Pittsburgh, Caltech and Arizona State University. J-1 visas let foreign visitors, including researchers, scholars and students, take part in exchange programs that can include study or work in the United States. ^6,20

The 61% figure draws attention to who gets federally funded research jobs, and how much they are paid. Vance claimed American graduate students and researchers earn about $20,000 more than workers brought in under J-1 visas. That comparison and the claim of improper visa use are part of the government’s case, not proven conclusions. Arizona State denied wrongdoing, saying it follows U.S. law. MIT said it was reviewing a broad subpoena and that its J-1 visa holders had been checked and approved by the government. ^8,10

The subpoenas now give the universities a deadline to provide records to federal investigators. Brown University spokesperson Brian Clark confirmed the school received a subpoena for records on foreign labor programs and said Brown would respond directly to the government. The Labor Department’s review will determine whether the schools broke rules or used the visa program improperly; the sources do not report a final decision. ^13,6