‘As one of the largest research universities…’: Arizona State responds to federal probe into J-1 visa use after JD Vance says ‘something weird is going on’
Arizona State University has defended its hiring practices after the Trump administration launched a federal investigation into the use of J-1 visas at nine major US universities, with Vice President JD Vance alleging that the programme was being used to undercut wages for American researchers.ASU said it had hired the talent needed to support its research and academic operations in full compliance with US laws and policies. The university was among nine institutions named by Vance during an October 8 news conference announcing a new federal crackdown on alleged visa fraud.“As one of the largest research universities in the United States, Arizona State University educates more STEM majors than any other university, and employs one of the largest technical and scientific workforces in the country,” the university said in a statement. “This benefits both the Arizona and the United States economies, and in doing so, ASU has hired the talent needed to perform these functions, and done so in complete compliance with existing United States policy and law.”The investigation is part of a broader Trump administration effort to scrutinise the use of employment and exchange-visitor visa programmes. US Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito said subpoenas had already been served and investigations were under way.
Why is the US investigating ASU and eight other universities?
Vance named Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Brown University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of California, Davis, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), ASU and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as institutions requiring scrutiny.The vice president alleged that the universities relied disproportionately on J-1 visa holders for federally funded research positions, potentially allowing them to pay less than they would pay American graduate students and researchers.According to figures cited by Vance, J-1 visa holders accounted for approximately 61% of research positions supported by federal grants at the nine institutions, compared with a national average of about 38%. He also claimed that American graduate students and researchers earned around $20,000 more than individuals brought in under the J-1 programme.“Something weird is going on at these universities,” Vance said, arguing that the programme was being used to reduce labour costs at the expense of American workers.The allegations have not established that ASU or the other universities violated immigration law. The investigation is intended to examine whether the institutions improperly used visa classifications and federal research funding.
What is the J-1 visa programme?
The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for individuals participating in designated exchange programmes in the United States. It covers categories including research scholars, professors, students and other exchange visitors.Universities and research institutions use the programme to bring international scholars and researchers to the US for academic exchange, teaching and research.Unlike the H-1B visa, which allows employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, the J-1 is specifically designed for approved exchange-visitor activities. Its rules and eligibility requirements differ from those governing H-1B employment.The Trump administration’s investigation focuses on whether universities have used the J-1 programme in ways that circumvent employment obligations, depress wages or improperly benefit from taxpayer-funded research.D’Esposito said the government would examine whether foreign influence, improper financial relationships or visa-related misconduct had compromised federally funded research.
