Explainer-The skilled foreign tech workers' green card program under attack from Trump

On October 8, the United States announced it would be suspending a green card program used by major tech and IT firms, including Microsoft, Cognizant, and Capgemini. The suspension targets the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) system, which allows skilled foreign workers to gain permanent residency through their employment in the US.

The program, introduced in 2005, aims to expedite the lengthy processing times under the previous paper-based Alien Employment Certification program. PERM requires US employers to certify that there are not enough qualified American workers for a given job and that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively impact wages or working conditions for American workers.

The move comes as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on skilled foreign labor, with Vice President JD Vance claiming companies are using the PERM program to replace American employees with cheaper foreign workers and undercut their wages.