TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FREEZES GREEN-CARD FILINGS FOR MICROSOFT, ADOBE AND MAJOR IT FIRMS IN H-1B CRACKDOWN
The Trump administration has frozen new and pending PERM permanent labor certification applications involving Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini, accusing the companies of abusing skilled-worker immigration programs and disadvantaging U.S. workers. Vice President JD Vance singled out Microsoft, saying it laid off thousands of workers while continuing to benefit from H-1B visas and green-card sponsorship. Microsoft disputes the implication, saying about 80% of its recent H-1B filings involved existing employees and that H-1B workers receive comparable pay. Nine universities are also facing separate J-1 visa investigations. The administration’s claims of systematic replacement and wage suppression remain allegations subject to further enforcement and legal scrutiny.