DHS Uncovers Over 10,000 Cases of Fraud in OPT Student Visa Work Program

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has identified more than 10,000 potential cases of fraud involving foreign students participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons detailed the findings at a joint press conference with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials. Site visits by investigators revealed numerous empty or locked offices that were listed as workplaces for hundreds of students, shell companies with no real operations, and arrangements where students were directed by managers based overseas — most commonly in India — rather than receiving the required direct training and supervision from U.S. employers.

The fraud schemes primarily involved IT consulting, staffing, and recruitment firms that used false addresses and fabricated employment records to allow foreign graduates to maintain legal status in the United States. Many of the suspect employers ranked among the largest users of the OPT program. Lyons described the program as having become a “magnet for fraud” and said the discoveries represent “only the tip of the iceberg” after the agency dramatically expanded oversight over the past year.

The OPT program allows F-1 student visa holders to work in the United States for up to 12 months after graduation, with STEM-degree recipients eligible for an additional 24-month extension. It is frequently used as a pathway to H-1B visas. Officials say many participants were not employed by legitimate American companies but were placed in sham setups that bypassed program rules requiring actual U.S.-based training.

Investigators documented fraudulent activity in multiple states, including Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Florida. The cases have been referred for further administrative and potential criminal review. No arrests were announced Tuesday, but the investigation remains active.

The announcement fits into the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement and close loopholes that have allowed visa abuse. The administration previously achieved net negative migration for the first time in 50 years through stricter oversight of student and work visa programs.