The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is taking firm action against fraudulent activity within the Green Card application process, particularly targeting abuse of the EB-1A “extraordinary ability” category. Immigration attorney Rahul Reddy reports that numerous approved applications—mostly from Indian nationals—are now being re-examined, with many already facing revocation.
According to Reddy, several EB-1A applicants allegedly manipulated the system by publishing in low-quality journals, generating fake citations through coordinated co-authorship, and promoting dubious awards such as the Stevie and Globee to bolster their profiles. One social media user even claimed a network of around 200 individuals collaborated to artificially enhance one another’s credentials, with some now offering these tactics as paid services.
The crackdown, while severe, is being welcomed by many long-waiting Indian applicants who pursued legal routes, hoping this clean-up will restore integrity and improve fairness in the process. However, others are concerned the controversy could prompt USCIS to curtail or even dismantle the EB-1A category altogether. Legal experts warn that the next wave of enforcement may involve reopening and potentially revoking previously approved I-140s and Green Cards.
In a related development, the U.S. Department of Justice has penalized California-based tech staffing firm Epik Solutions for unlawfully discriminating against American workers in favor of foreign nationals on H-1B visas. The case is the first resolution under the renewed Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, a federal effort aimed at safeguarding employment opportunities for U.S. citizens.
A DOJ investigation found that Epik Solutions violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by posting job ads that explicitly excluded U.S. citizens, giving preference to foreign workers. The firm’s practices were deemed a clear breach of federal anti-discrimination laws. Under the terms of the settlement, Epik Solutions will pay $71,916 in civil penalties, revamp its hiring practices, undergo compliance training, and cease all discriminatory job advertising moving forward.