WATCH: Vance vows to work to recoup taxpayer money from firms abusing worker visas

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(The Center Square) – During a news conference announcing the federal government's cessation of granting work visas to several companies and universities accused of abusing the program, Vice President JD Vance vowed to go after companies that subsidize cheap labor at the cost of American taxpayers.

The Center Square asked the vice president Thursday whether the federal government would try to recoup costs from companies underpaying their workers, with families that, in turn, relied on government welfare programs to survive.

“We’re going to continue to look at a number of these things. Again, we’ve already done some of this work, but we’re going to continue to look at ways of recouping American taxpayer money that has effectively gone to subsidize cheap labor all over the United States of America,” Vance told The Center Square.

The vice president underscored that any individual immigrating to the U.S. shouldn’t be reliant on the federal government for benefits.

“We have already tried to ensure that if you’re coming to the United States of America and benefiting from our very generous welfare system, that you should stop doing that,” said Vance.

The vice president said immigrants should be coming to the U.S. to improve the country, not siphon off the system.

“I mean our message to newcomers to the United States of America, whatever program they’re coming on, is that you should come to the United States to enrich this country, to make this country better, to participate, of course, in the institutions of American democracy,” said the vice president. “If your purpose in coming to the United States of America is to cash a check, meaning a check not for working, but from our generous welfare program, then you’re not going to enrich the United States of America, and we would prefer that you not come here.”

The response came following an announcement by Vance and other administration officials about a crackdown on several companies, including Microsoft and several universities, that the administration has accused of abusing H-1B and J-1 visas.

The vice president noted Microsoft laid off approximately 6,000 American workers, while importing more than 6,000 foreign workers to do their jobs at a major pay cut. Administration officials claim that several companies and universities import foreign workers and pay them significantly less than American workers.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform noted in 2023 that the net cost of illegal immigration to the U.S., from the federal government down to the local level was estimated at $150.7 billion.

While the study focused on illegal immigration, it demonstrates the strain of immigration on low-wage employees and the taxpayers.