The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a vital post-study work pathway for thousands of international students in the United States, is once again at the center of America's immigration debate after federal authorities alleged widespread fraud and abuse within the system.
Authorities Identify Thousands of Suspicious Cases
US immigration officials claim to have identified more than 10,000 students linked to 'highly suspect employers' across the country. In a strongly worded briefing, Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), described the OPT program as a 'magnet for fraud' and warned of criminal, civil, and immigration consequences for those found abusing the system. 'Today we are announcing that we have identified over 10,000 foreign students who claim to be working for highly suspect employers. And that's just among the top 25 OPT employers,' Lyons said.
Legitimate Use vs. Fraudulent Practices
Immigration lawyers and education experts have long cautioned that while fraudulent consultancies and fake staffing arrangements exist within the OPT ecosystem, the overwhelming majority of international students use the program legitimately to gain work experience after graduating from accredited US institutions. The latest crackdown is expected to fuel long-standing political efforts by conservative groups to scale back or eliminate the program altogether. The idea of cutting back the OPT program first emerged during Trump's earlier presidency, in the administration's 2020 spring agenda. More recently, in April, Congressman Paul Gosar introduced a bill in the House to eliminate the OPT program, arguing that 'it completely undercuts American workers, particularly higher-skilled workers and recent college graduates, by giving employers a tax incentive to hire inexpensive, foreign labor under the guise of student training.'
Political Reactions and Impact on Students
In the backdrop of this briefing, Vice President JD Vance posted on X: 'Another great win for our fraud task force. We will not tolerate foreign nationals abusing our visa system at the expense of the American people.' The OPT program allows international students on F-1 visas to work for one year in the US after graduation. Students in STEM fields can obtain an additional 24-month extension beyond the initial 12 months of OPT. This extended period for STEM students is particularly viewed by Trump's hardline supporters as a program that takes away jobs from locals.
Indian Students Particularly Affected
According to the latest Open Doors report for 2024-25, 360,000 Indian students were studying in the US. Among them, 140,000 were participating in the OPT program, with a significant number in STEM-OPT. International students, including innocent victims, are labeled as guilty of fraud under the 'secret' OPT scam findings of US agencies—secret because the names of the tainted employers are not made public. Under a revised policy, which was reported by Times of India last March, notices can be issued to students who in the past underwent or are undergoing OPT with blacklisted companies. This can result in arrest, detention, and deportation, even years later, for instance, while a former student is gainfully employed with an H-1B visa. The recent briefing on OPT scams has triggered anxiety among international students, especially Indian students, who constitute the largest cohort.
Details of Alleged Fraud
According to ICE officials, investigators found alleged employers operating from empty offices, locked buildings, shared addresses, and even residential homes supposedly employing hundreds of foreign students. Authorities also claimed some firms lacked proper employment records and showed signs of financial irregularities. The agency further alleged that some companies listed offshore HR and payroll teams based in India and that, in certain cases, students claiming to work for US firms were actually being 'trained' by companies operating from India. ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit said it had conducted site visits in states including Texas, Virginia, Georgia, New Jersey, and New York. In one case cited during the briefing, officials claimed a company reported employing only three OPT workers even though government records showed more than 500 students listing it as their employer. US authorities also alleged the existence of shell-company networks and 'phantom employees'—students who obtained work authorization documents but allegedly never appeared at the declared worksites.
