The Trump administration is launching an investigation into nine US universities over alleged J-1 visa fraud, with officials raising concerns about Chinese scholars and the Chinese government.
The J-1 programme covers exchange visitors including international researchers, scholars and students, who may receive temporary authorisation to work or conduct research in the US.
At a Thursday press conference, Anthony D’Esposito, inspector general of the US Department of Labor, announced what he called a “historic investigation” into J-1 visa fraud at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, the University of Pittsburgh, UC Davis, Caltech, Arizona State University and MIT. Subpoenas have been issued to the universities, officials said.
Standing alongside Vice-President J.D. Vance and other White House officials, D’Esposito singled out China, warning that the Chinese government need not break into US research labs if institutions leave their doors open.
“China is not simply an economic competitor,” D’Esposito said. “The Chinese Communist Party is a sophisticated adversary actively targeting American technology, intellectual property and national security interests.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It remains unclear how many Chinese scholars could be affected by the investigation. D’Esposito said about 61 per cent of postdoctoral researchers and federally funded workers at the nine universities are foreign nationals, compared with a national average of 38 per cent.
Officials said the investigation will examine whether foreign influence, improper financial ties or visa abuse are compromising federally funded research at the universities.
“So something weird is going on at these universities,” Vance said, arguing that the schools were using foreign workers to “undercut the wages of American grad students and American researchers”.
The South China Morning Post contacted all nine universities for comment and figures on their Chinese J-1 scholars. By Thursday night, four had responded.
Arizona State, Brown, MIT and Yale all stressed compliance with US law or said they would review the investigation. ASU defended its hiring practices, and MIT said its J-1 visa holders had been vetted and authorised by the government. None provided figures for Chinese J-1 scholars.
“Brown’s international scholars, students and employees make essential contributions to our campus,” Brian Clark, the university’s vice-president for news and strategic campus communications, said in a statement. “We have received a subpoena from the government for various records pertaining to foreign labour programmes administered by the US government, and we will respond promptly and directly to the government.”
The investigation comes as the administration has broadened its scrutiny of programmes that allow foreign nationals to study and work in the United States.
It has also proposed charging universities US$70,000 for each international student taking part in the Optional Practical Training programme, which allows foreign students to work in jobs related to their studies.
At the same press conference, officials also announced the suspension of several major technology companies, including Microsoft and Adobe, from participating in the PERM labour certification process, a key step in securing employment-based permanent residency for foreign workers. The administration alleged abuse and fraud in the system.
“Our message to Microsoft is: You’re a great American company, but you’ve got to hire great American workers,” Vance said at the event. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
