Texas daycare accused of H-1B scam in ‘pay-to-play’ scheme; visas tied to unrelated job roles

Sara Gonzales outside the daycare

A Texas daycare owner has come under scrutiny after a video surfaced showing him being confronted over claims that his businesses sponsored dozens of foreign workers through the US H-1B visa programme.Critics decribed it as a “pay-to-play” scheme.The footage was shared by BlazeTV and Texas personality Sara Gonzales. It shows her questioning the operator of Allen Infant Care Center, formerly known as Golden Acorn Academy, in North Texas. Gonzales says the daycare is linked to Golden Qi Holdings LLC and DFW ABA Center, an autism therapy provider.According to her findings, the businesses have collectively filed more than 50 labour condition applications and sponsored at least 37 H-1B visa workers. Some of the listed roles include market research analyst and supply chain analyst, positions that appear unrelated to daycare or childcare services.During the confrontation, the owner, identified as Yuan Yao, refused to answer questions and repeatedly told Gonzales to talk to his lawyer. When asked about the allegations, he said, “I only can tell you, everything is legal,” while declining to provide documents.Gonzales also asked for public records that employers are required to keep under H-1B rules, but said these were not produced during the exchange.The video also includes claims from a whistleblower described as familiar with the businesses. The individual alleged, “He sells visas,” and claimed foreign workers paid up to $20,000 for sponsorship. The whistleblower also alleged that some employees were underpaid after arriving in US, saying the owner “gets them to work for him for next to nothing.”Questions were also raised about whether the daycare facility was actively operating. Gonzales stated during her visit that “this day care just closed” and appeared to be undergoing changes.The businesses are also reported to have received more than $100,000 in Paycheck Protection Programme loans that were later forgiven.The H-1B visa programme allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialist roles but requires them to show genuine job needs and pay set wage levels.Gonzales said she plans to pass her findings to federal authorities, questioning why an allegedly inactive daycare would continue filing H-1B petitions.The confrontation comes as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is already investigating suspected H-1B abuse in North Texas. His office previously issued civil demands after reports of companies allegedly running “ghost” operations while sponsoring foreign workers.