Trump administration freezes green cards for Microsoft, IT firms, probes universities
MSFT•The Labor Department suspended new and pending permanent labor certification applications involving Microsoft and six other IT services companies, while the administration opened probes into nine universities. Vice President JD Vance said the suspensions would last “as long as it needs to.”
1. Applications suspended
The Labor Department said it would halt new and pending PERM applications involving Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the companies had sought almost three million foreign workers since 2009 and received more than 230,000 H-1B visa approvals and more than 100,000 permanent labor certifications.
2. Microsoft responds
Vance accused Microsoft of abusing the system, saying it laid off 6,000 American workers last year while benefiting from 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. Microsoft said about 80% of its H-1B applications in the last fiscal year were to extend or change the status of current employees, and that it pays H-1B employees the same as others doing comparable work.
3. University investigations
The administration also said it would investigate nine universities, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown and MIT, over alleged misuse of exchange-visitor visas. Labor Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito said subpoenas had been served and investigators would examine whether foreign influence, improper financial relationships or visa abuse were compromising federally funded research.
