Washington, D.C., USA: The US government under Donald Trump has intensified its efforts to target illegal immigrants. Authorities appear to be considering numerous factors when deciding on deportations. One area of concern is the unauthorized earnings of H-1B and F-1 visa holders. In this context, information from taxpayers is being shared by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Reports indicate that the IRS has started supplying this data to immigration officials. Experts caution that individuals relying on part-time or informal work could be at risk of deportation.
Immigration officers have been closely questioning H-1B visa holders at entry points such as US embassies and border ports, seeking details about informal work undertaken during their student years. In some cases, authorities are scrutinizing an individual’s full background, especially if they have been involved in traffic or legal violations. The focus appears to include part-time or unofficial jobs performed years ago, with officials verifying these through IRS tax records. Additionally, authorities are reportedly using social media assessments to evaluate visa holders’ activities and behavior.
US media reports have highlighted that the IRS is providing financial details of immigrants to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department. Legal experts on immigration warn that officials might examine informal earnings closely, even if taxes were filed for official income. While such measures are not yet applied universally, visa holders are advised to exercise caution. To minimize the risk of deportation, experts recommend avoiding unauthorized employment, even on a small scale, and consulting immigration law firms for guidance.
