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But the program’s impact on the region is broader than that. An I-Team investigation last year found that 82 percent of the 33,348 applications for H-1B visas in Ohio in 2015 were for jobs paying below-average wages; often working for companies that specialize in outsourcing.
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The owner of a Cleveland IT consulting firm said the H-1B program makes American workers less competitive and is “a huge job and industry killer for us.”
Another I-Team investigation in 2015 found federal agencies routinely fine companies and public agencies for running afoul of program rules, but such violations rarely result in criminal charges.
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Trump’s order would direct U.S. agencies to propose rules to prevent immigration fraud and abuse in the program. They would also be asked to offer changes so that H-1B visas are awarded to the most-skilled or highest-paid applicants.
The number of requests for H-1B visas declined this year by about 15 percent, or roughly 37,000 applications, but the total was still nearly 200,000, far more than the 85,000 limit.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
MORE FROM THE I-TEAM ON THIS:
New guidelines could impact use of visas for IT outsourcing
H-1B program a ‘job and industry killer;’ lawmakers react
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