Skilled foreign tech workers' green card program under attack from Trump
MSFT•The U.S. government said it is suspending Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant and other firms from the PERM green card program, citing alleged fraud and claims that companies replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
1. PERM suspensions
The suspension means the government will not accept new PERM applications or process pending ones for certain companies. PERM allows employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency after the Labor Department certifies that qualified and available U.S. workers are insufficient and that foreign hires will not affect comparable workers’ wages and conditions.
2. Workers and employers
The program is a route from temporary work status to permanent residency for many skilled foreign workers. Without employer sponsorship through PERM, workers could remain on temporary visas longer, while recruiting foreign talent could become harder for companies.
3. Administration’s rationale
Vice President JD Vance said companies use PERM to replace American employees with foreign workers and undercut wages, but cited no specific evidence. The suspensions follow President Trump’s proposed one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions, which federal court orders have blocked; the PERM freeze does not appear to directly affect current H-1B visa holders.
