Trump Admin Bars Tech Firms from Seeking Green Cards for Foreign Workers

The Trump administration has enacted a new policy that prevents Microsoft and several other technology companies from sponsoring foreign workers for permanent residency, also known as green cards. Vice President JD Vance announced the suspension, alleging that companies like Microsoft have abused the H-1B visa program by replacing American workers with foreign employees. The administration framed this move as a measure to protect U.S. workers from unfair wage competition and safeguard domestic job opportunities.

The policy specifically targets the Labor Department's PERM program, which employers typically use to sponsor foreign workers for employment-based green cards. Beyond Microsoft, the suspension also applies to Adobe and major IT staffing firms including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini, all of whom are reportedly under investigation for their hiring practices.

Microsoft has contested the administration's claims, stating that a significant majority of its H-1B visa applications in the last fiscal year were for extending or changing the status of existing employees, not for hiring new foreign workers. This new restriction, while not prohibiting companies from employing H-1B workers, could make it more challenging for these foreign workers to secure permanent residency in the United States.