The Trump administration has stepped up its scrutiny of employment-based immigration, targeting major technology companies that sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency and announcing investigations into universities that use exchange-visitor visas.
The administration announced that eight companies would be suspended from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program, a process employers generally must complete before sponsoring eligible foreign workers for employment-based green cards. The administration has not announced a fixed end date for the restrictions. Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito also announced a multi-agency visa-fraud strike team intended to investigate suspected schemes, trace financial transactions and work with the Justice Department on prosecutions.
Here is what changed, which workers could be affected and what the developments mean for people planning to work and settle in the US. The suspension could disrupt green-card plans for employees whose cases depend on employer-sponsored PERM certification. Vice President Vance accused Microsoft of laying off American workers while continuing to rely on foreign-worker programs.
The measures were announced by Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials on October 8. He cited about 6,000 US job cuts, 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards in discussing the company. The October 8 announcement also widened the administration’s scrutiny beyond technology companies. Officials said nine universities warranted investigation over their use of J-1 exchange-visitor visas, which can cover international scholars, researchers and participants in exchange programs.
The move is part of US President Donald Trump’s efforts during his second term in office to restrict the number of foreign-born people gaining US citizenship and permanent residency. His administration has argued that the presence of foreign workers affects employment opportunities for Americans. The Permanent Labor Certification Program is the mandatory first step for employment-based green card sponsorship.
Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the government would neither accept new PERM applications involving the companies nor process pending applications.
Earlier reporting noted: How H-1B visa holders could be affected by US green card suspension: Microsoft, TCS, Wipro in focus The Donald Trump-led US administration has suspended Microsoft and other firms from the United States’ green card programme, in a move which might affect H-1B workers employed at these firms too. Earlier reporting noted: Apart from Microsoft, other companies facing suspension include Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini. Earlier reporting noted: While the suspension will not have a blanket effect on all H-1B visa holders, it directly halts the PERM filings of the firms suspended from the Green Card programme, thus impacting those working at these firms.
