Stanford is one of nine universities under federal investigation for potential fraud involving the J-1 visa program, Vice President JD Vance announced at a White House press conference on Thursday.

Anthony D’Esposito, the Department of Labor’s inspector general, said the universities have been served subpoenas. The investigation will look at “whether foreign influence, improper financial relationships or visa abuse are compromising federally funded research.

The J-1 program allows noncitizens to temporarily study, teach or conduct research in the United States. According to University spokesperson Angie Davis, Bechtel International Center emailed current J-1 and H-1B holders on Thursday, informing them that the University is reviewing the matter and that Stanford staff are available to support them.

Vance said the nine schools employ J-1 holders on federally funded research at a rate of about 61%, compared with a national average of 38%. In his view, the practice lowers wages for American graduate students and researchers. 

The other universities named are Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Institute of Technology (CalTech), University of California Davis (UCD), Arizona State University (ASU) and the University of Pittsburgh. MIT told Politico it has received and is reviewing the subpoena; Yale said it would review the documents once it receives them.

“Stanford complies with all applicable visa laws, including those relating to J-1 visas,” Davis wrote in a statement to The Daily. She said the University will cooperate with the investigation.