Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified nearly 10,000 cases of alleged fraud among students enrolled in a work permit initiative, including the use of fake employers.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified over 10,000 potential fraud cases linked to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows foreign students to work in the U.S. post-graduation. 📰 DETAIL: ICE Director Todd Lyons described the program as a “magnet for fraud,” reporting that investigators uncovered shell companies, some reportedly operated from India, that were used to help international students maintain legal status and employment authorization. The agency said investigators found cases involving nonexistent offices, locked buildings, and questionable job placements, raising concerns about oversight and abuse of the visa system. The OPT program, created under President George W. Bush and later expanded by the Obama administration, has long faced criticism from immigration hardliners who argue it undercuts American workers and lacks proper congressional authorization. ICE officials said enforcement efforts will include increased site visits and investigations into employers participating in the program 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Our nation will not tolerate security threats originating from the foreign student program,” said ICE acting Director Todd Lyons. 🎯 IMPACT: The findings are expected to bolster calls from immigration restrictionists for reforms to visa programs used to bypass hiring American graduates. The Trump administration had already initiated a crackdown on such programs, leading to legal challenges from affected students. |
📺WATCH: New ICE HSI data shows rampant foreign student fraud — ICE director says these probes are only the beginning.
➡️We’ve identified over 10,000 foreign students who claim to be working for highly-suspect employers.
➡️We’ve discovered empty buildings and locked doors at… pic.twitter.com/RS51VLKM1V
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) May 12, 2026
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