H1B Executive Orders 2026: Presidential Proclamation Targets Program Integrity

The White House has issued a Presidential Proclamation directing enhanced program integrity measures and interagency coordination in the administration of the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. The proclamation signals a continued focus on ensuring that H-1B visas are used as intended — for specialty occupation workers — and aims to reduce fraud, abuse, and misuse within the program. The proclamation calls for closer collaboration between agencies including USCIS, the Department of Labor, and the Department of State to share data and align enforcement efforts. This type of cross-agency coordination is intended to create a more rigorous vetting process for H-1B petitions from the employer filing stage through final adjudication. While the proclamation directly addresses the H-1B nonimmigrant program, its implications extend to the broader employment-based immigration system. Many H-1B workers are concurrently pursuing permanent residence through EB-2 or EB-3 green card categories, and heightened scrutiny at the nonimmigrant level could affect the underlying employment relationships that support those petitions. For EB-3 applicants already in the pipeline, the key concern is whether stricter H-1B oversight translates into additional scrutiny of employer-employee relationships or prevailing wage compliance — both of which are also central to PERM labor certification. Applicants should ensure their sponsoring employers remain compliant with all DOL and USCIS requirements throughout the green card process. Immigration attorneys recommend that affected workers review their current visa status and pending petitions with qualified counsel to assess any downstream impact from this executive action on their long-term immigration plans.