The White House has blocked Microsoft and seven other technology firms from participating in a key federal program that allows foreign professionals to secure permanent residency in the United States. During a joint announcement, administration officials accused the targeted corporations of abusing immigration pathways intended for specialized talent.
Vice President JD Vance levied sharp criticism at Microsoft during a Thursday press conference, singling out the software giant as a primary offender. He alleged that the company has systematically displaced domestic employees by bringing in workers from overseas. Alongside Microsoft, the government’s punitive measures extend to Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini.
Labor Secretary Kieth Sonderling confirmed that federal agencies have immediately halted the processing of all new and pending Permanent Labor Certification Program applications submitted by the eight impacted businesses. Sonderling asserted that certain corporations and academic institutions had effectively transformed into processing hubs that saturate the domestic labor market with foreign nationals.
Administration officials tied the crackdown to concerns over wage suppression and domestic layoffs. The vice president claimed that Microsoft had eliminated thousands of domestic jobs while simultaneously filing a comparable number of H-1B visa requests, arguing the practice undermines the domestic workforce.
A Microsoft spokesperson defended the organization's hiring practices, noting that the vast majority of its domestic staff are American citizens. The company also clarified that the overwhelming majority of its recent visa submissions involved individuals already on its payroll rather than newly imported personnel. Furthermore, the firm emphasized that foreign professionals receive compensation packages comparable to those of their domestic counterparts, with median salaries exceeding six figures.
The H-1B visa system has operated for decades as a mechanism for domestic employers to recruit highly qualified individuals when qualified domestic candidates are scarce. Annual caps limit the program to 85,000 new primary visas each year, serving as a preliminary step for professionals seeking permanent residency through the labor certification process.
Despite the administration's aggressive posture toward Microsoft, other major technology conglomerates such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and Apple were not named in the recent directives. The sudden policy shift occurs against a complex backdrop of ongoing government engagement with corporate leaders, coinciding with scheduled high-level meetings between administration officials and top technology executives.
Representatives for Microsoft stated that the organization intends to cooperate fully with the administration and supply additional details regarding its employment framework. Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over international employees currently in the system, particularly following recent proposals that could shorten the allowable timeframe for laid-off visa holders to secure alternative employment before leaving the country.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
