Pending Sentencing Spotlights H-1B Visa Abuse in America?s Heartland
To get a fuller understanding of how deeply H-1B visa fraud has permeated this country, it?s helpful to consider the case of two men in Clinton, Iowa, who have pleaded guilty to fraud charges filed against them two years ago, and who will be sentenced by an Iowa court tomorrow.Vineet Maheshwari, a native of India, and Fazal Mehmood (also known as Fazal Awan), a native of Pakistan, were arrested and charged with violations of U.S. immigration law in February 2009. According to federal prosecutors, the men brought workers into the United States under the H-1B visa program for jobs that never really existed. This excerpt from a Quad-City Times article explains what was going on:
Despite having brought in hundreds of employees, predominately from Pakistan, only three visa holders ? the office manager, a secretary and Awan?s brother ? were in the office when federal authorities arrived.
?In the entire time the manager has worked there, there has never been a job waiting for any of these people,? accordi
