Washington, US Vice President JD Vance has pledged to crack down on visa fraud and penalise companies that lay off American workers to replace them with cheaper foreign labour.

Addressing an election campaign rally in Topeka, Kansas, on Monday ahead of the midterm elections, Vance asserted that national sovereignty extends to securing jobs for citizens and controlling internal law and order.

“We will cut down on visa fraud and take strict action against any company that lays off an American worker and replaces them with a low-wage foreigner. Sovereignty means American jobs belong to American citizens, and above all, that you control your streets,” Vance said.

While Vance did not explicitly mention any specific visa category, his remarks hold significance for Indian IT professionals and skilled workers, who constitute the largest group of H-1B visa beneficiaries. The administration’s move to restrict skilled-worker visas remains tied up in legal challenges, with federal courts in Massachusetts and California blocking the proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions.

Emphasising the administration’s core policy objectives, the Vice President stated that the movement was rooted in sovereignty and prioritizing the interests of American citizens. He further announced plans to bar Wall Street firms and foreign investors from purchasing residential real estate and agricultural land in the US.

Vance also highlighted economic measures aimed at boosting local industries, stating that the US Department of Agriculture was rolling out new grant funding for 10 meatpacking facilities in Kansas to counter market concentration by foreign-controlled conglomerates. Additionally, he cited recent manufacturing expansion investments by aviation major Bombardier in the state.

On energy and healthcare, Vance reiterated the administration’s commitment to expanding domestic oil refining capacity to reduce reliance on foreign energy suppliers, alongside efforts to curb prescription drug prices.

During the rally, Vance campaigned for Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who is contesting against Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, while urging voters to exercise their franchise in the upcoming November 3 elections.