Just over a month after a US federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s proposed $100,000 fee requirement for H-1B applicants, the government has announced an investigation into potential fraud in this temporary work visa programme.

Also under scrutiny is a labour certification system that serves as the gateway to most employer-sponsored “green cards” that allow permanent residence in the US.

On Wednesday, US Vice President JD Vance said that the US was investigating foreigners involved in fraud related to the H-1B programme.

He said that the Federal Department of Labor had on Wednesday “started dozens of subpoenas and investigations into foreign fraudsters who are trying to take advantage of the H-1B visa programme.”

A subpoena is a written order to attend a court of law to give evidence.

“American jobs ought to go to American workers and not foreign fraudsters,” Vance declared.