04.23.15

Durbin, Sessions Statement On Labor Department Response To Call For Investigation Into Abuses Within H-1B Visa Program

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) released the following statement regarding the Department of Labor’s response to concerns raised by the senators about reports of U.S. companies using the H-1B visa program to cut wage costs by laying off American workers. 

On April 9th, Durbin and Sessions led a bipartisan group of ten United States Senators in calling on three federal agencies—the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Labor—to investigate abuses within the H-1B visa program. The senators are still awaiting responses from the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice.

“We appreciate the Department of Labor’s reply to our inquiry. We will continue pressing the Administration to use its legal authority to stop the displacement of American workers wherever possible and to conduct a thorough investigation of responsible parties. This response confirms that companies can often hire H-1B guest workers to replace American workers without fear of reprisal and that Congress must act to strengthen protections for U.S. workers and to make explicit that companies cannot engage in these practices. The law must be written to clearly prohibit replacing American workers with H-1B visa workers.”