A group dedicated to cutting the number of immigrants to the United States has sued the federal government, demanding information about companies and workers using the controversial H-1B visa.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) claims that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration has refused to provide the data as required under federal access-to-information law. The lawsuit was filed by a FAIR partner organization, The Immigration Reform Law Institute.
FAIR and the IRLI are seeking records related to the top 20 H-1B employers and top 100 non-profits using H-1B workers. They want data on visa-approval rates for each firm or organization, plus workplace locations, lowest wages paid to visa holders, and the skill level of each employee.
The H-1B is intended for jobs requiring specialized skills and a bachelor's degree or higher. The visa has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate. Critics point to alleged abuses and claim the work permit is used to take jobs from American workers, as well as causing other ills.
"While H-1B employers are required to pay foreign workers at market value, the fact is that flooding the labor market serves to drive down wages and limit opportunities for American workers," IRLI executive director Dale Wilcox said in a statement.
Citizenship and Immigration said it does not comment on litigation. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. on April 13.
