Senator Schmitt Accuses Elite Universities of Using H-1B for DEI Roles

(MISSOURI) Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri is pressing federal immigration officials to investigate elite U.S. universities for what he calls misuse of the H-1B visa program to staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices. He alleges that Dartmouth College, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Yale New Haven Health system have sought H-1B workers for DEI roles, including postings such as “Program Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” and “Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, Climate & Equity.” He argues these positions don’t meet the law’s standard for specialty occupations.

At the center is the H-1B visa, which the statute describes as for “specialty occupations” that require highly specialized knowledge and are used when employers say there are no qualified American workers available. Schmitt contends DEI roles are non-technical and ideological, so they fall outside the program’s intended scope. He calls the practice “outrageous” and “beyond the pale,” saying it undermines U.S. workers and bends a visa meant for high-skilled labor in specialized fields.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Schmitt’s complaint fits into a wider public debate about how schools and large employers use the H-1B system. In his view, using the program for campus bureaucracy blurs the line between genuine skill shortages and internal hiring choices. He says the universities’ filings are an example of a broader pattern of shifting H-1B hiring toward middle management and non-STEM roles, rather than the top-level specialized talent many associate with the program.

Allegations and Targets

Schmitt has sent a formal letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Administrator Joseph Edlow asking for an investigation into H-1B filings linked to DEI roles. He cites specific employers and job titles to argue that the statutory bar for “specialty occupation” is not met.

Key elements of his complaint:
– Named institutions: Dartmouth College, Carnegie Mellon University, Yale New Haven Health system.
– Example job titles: Program Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, Climate & Equity.
– Core claim: These roles do not require the specialized, technical knowledge the H-1B statute contemplates.

Schmitt frames the issue as both legal and economic:
– Legally, he points to the statute’s focus on specialized knowledge.
– Economically, he argues hiring foreign workers for DEI posts squeezes out American candidates, particularly for roles he views as not requiring niche technical expertise.

He warns that allowing H-1B use for such positions could let employers treat the program as a general hiring pipeline for administrative staff rather than a targeted channel for truly specialized talent. Supporters of his view say this would make it harder for American workers to compete for campus jobs.

No official response from the universities or USCIS has been reported as of October 2025.

Bipartisan Reform Momentum

Schmitt’s push joins a larger bipartisan effort in Congress focused on H-1B integrity. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) have advanced proposals intended to:
– Prevent employers from replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
– Close loopholes that permit misuse of the H-1B program.

Their work signals that concerns about H-1B stretches are not limited to one party. The shared stated goal is to protect U.S. workers while keeping the door open for genuine specialty talent.

How this ties to the DEI filings:
– If DEI roles do not meet the standard for “highly specialized knowledge,” using H-1B for those positions would, critics say, erode confidence in the system.
– Once the line blurs, almost any white-collar role could be labeled “specialized,” diluting statutory protections for American workers.

Implications for Employers and International Professionals

For international professionals, the debate matters because it affects how employers design job postings and decide which roles to sponsor. Workers who come to the United States 🇺🇸 on H-1B usually rely on employers to certify that a job demands specialized skills and that no U.S. workers are available.

Potential consequences if scrutiny tightens:
– Employers may adjust sponsorship strategies.
– Universities and other employers may re-evaluate how they document job duties, minimum requirements, and evidence of specialized knowledge.
– Clarification from USCIS could shape future filings by defining the boundary between acceptable specialty roles and routine administrative positions.

In higher education settings, the allegations raise questions about administrative hiring and compliance. Schmitt argues channeling DEI hiring through H-1B petitions shows a shift from the program’s stated aim of attracting “high-skilled labor” in narrow fields toward non-STEM, middle-management roles.

Opposing views:
– Critics might contend that specialized knowledge can exist outside STEM fields and that some DEI roles could legitimately qualify.
– The petitioning institutions’ internal rationales for these postings have not been presented here.

Agency Guidance and Evidence

Policy observers note that agency guidance influences employer behavior. Employers often look to adjudicator practice and USCIS guidance to understand how the statute will be applied.

Possible focuses of an investigation:
– How job duties are described in petitions.
– Whether minimum requirements reflect a true specialty occupation.
– Whether petitions present evidence of specialized knowledge or unique skills.

For readers who want to review the federal standard, USCIS publishes an overview of the H-1B category, including the statutory “specialty occupation” concept, on its official page: H-1B Specialty Occupations. That page explains the program’s purpose and general requirements from the government’s perspective.

Current Record and Next Steps

The public record currently contains:
– Schmitt’s allegations and the cited job titles.
– His request for a USCIS investigation.
– No public responses from the named universities.
– No public confirmation from USCIS of any investigation.

VisaVerge.com reports that Schmitt’s action reflects rising scrutiny of non-STEM and middle-management H-1B cases across sectors. An investigation, if one occurs, could:
1. Focus attention on how institutions justify the “specialty” nature of non-teaching roles.
2. Prompt universities to reassess the evidentiary bases for H-1B petitions tied to DEI administration.
3. Influence broader H-1B reform discussions in Congress.

Bottom line: The controversy highlights how immigration rules intersect with domestic employment debates. Schmitt and bipartisan reformers argue that using an employment-based visa for DEI roles “undermines American workers,” while others may argue that specialized knowledge can exist outside traditional STEM categories. The outcome may depend on agency review and potential legislative or administrative clarification.