Amid growing uncertainty around H-1B visas in the US, a senior immigration lawyer has warned that large-scale inspections and raids could soon take place in Houston, targeting companies that employ H-1B workers.
Daniel N Ramirez, Employment and Litigation Partner at Monty & Ramirez LLP, raised the alarm in a LinkedIn post.
He said the US immigration law community is hearing reports that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fraud Detection Division is planning unannounced H-1B site inspections in the Houston area later this month and into February.
According to Ramirez, these visits will be conducted without prior notice and are meant to verify whether employers are following the terms mentioned in their H-1B petitions.
This includes checking if companies are paying the required prevailing wages and whether H-1B employees are actually performing the jobs approved by the government.
He warned that if USCIS finds any irregularities or “red flags,” the cases could be referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for further action.
Ramirez also advised employers on how to protect themselves and their employees. He said companies should create clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) and appoint trained staff members to handle USCIS visits.
Employers should also keep a dedicated “site inspection” file with all documents proving compliance with H-1B rules. In addition, he stressed the importance of conducting internal audits before USCIS officials arrive.
This warning comes just days after former Republican lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former ally of ex-President Donald Trump, claimed that a “massive H-1B fraud” is happening in Texas.
After stepping down from Congress earlier this month, Greene shared a TikTok video by an influencer who alleged that nearly 7 lakh H-1B applicants were brought into Texas in 2025.
The influencer further claimed that these visas were approved by an immigration attorney and that some applicants were running fake tech companies from residential homes in cities like Frisco and Irving, while also receiving government funding. These claims, however, remain unverified.
With rising scrutiny and political noise around the H-1B programme, immigration experts are urging both employers and workers to stay alert, maintain proper documentation, and strictly follow visa rules to avoid trouble.
