Foreign Students Listed at Dozens of Phony Workplaces, ICE Says

WASHINGTON, DC – A number of employer checks out of Northern Virginia conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in recent weeks revealed concerns “of potential fraud,” according to the agency, who were reviewing various employers to ensure compliance with federal immigration law surrounding foreign workers.

ICE HSI issued a press release pertaining to various employer checks that were conducted in the Northern Virginia area, reportedly focused on employers abiding by the mandates surrounding the hiring of F-1 foreign students. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), nonimmigrant foreign college students holding an F-1 visa status are allowed to attain work stateside “that directly relates to an F-1 student’s major area of study” while school is in and out of session.

When it comes to nonimmigrant foreign students participating in the abovementioned Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, there are obviously mandates that need to be addressed and adhered to by both the employee and employer, which ICE HSI noted concerns about certain entities appearing to exploit the intentions behind the OPT program.

“ICE officials discovered evidence of noncompliance and potential fraud,” the press release reads, adding, “including evidence of nonfunctional or staged worksites and supervisors who lacked knowledge of laws and regulations related to employing foreign students while visiting local IT services companies.”

The agency also highlighted one particular instance where a listed employer’s place of business was a private residence out of a Virginia suburb, with said employer allegedly hosting “dozens of foreign students” as listed employees under the OPT program.

Additional employers who have foreign students listed as participants in the OPT program reviewed by the agency revealed evidence of faux worksites, as well as “supervisors who lacked knowledge of laws and regulations related to employing foreign students.”

ICE Director Todd Lyons issued a statement in light of the outcomes of the recent audits, emphasizing that the agency intends to ensure “that foreign students, educational institutions and employers participating in the program adhere to U.S. laws and regulations.”

Lyons further added in his statement on the matter, “Individuals who seek to exploit the immigration system have no place within this program. ICE will take decisive action to hold bad actors accountable and will intensify investigations to mitigate fraud and address security risks associated with the Optional Practical Training programs.”