U.S. suspends Microsoft, Adobe from green-card labor program in foreign worker crackdown

The Trump administration has barred tech giants Microsoft, Adobe, and several other major IT firms from participating in a program that aids skilled foreign workers in obtaining permanent residency in the United States. The companies are accused of engaging in fraudulent activities. Vice President JD Vance stated that while Microsoft is a great American company, it must hire more American workers.

The program in question involves H-1B visas, which are intended for highly skilled positions that U.S. employers may find challenging to fill with qualified American workers. The government will no longer accept new or pending permanent labor certification applications from the suspended companies. The Secretary of Labor, Keith Sonderling, made this announcement.

H-1B visas are predominantly utilized by technology companies, with nearly three-quarters of approved visas going to workers from India, according to The Associated Press. Additionally, the administration has launched an investigation into nine universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, for alleged abuse of a program that permits international students to study in the U.S. and use it to suppress wages for American workers. Microsoft and Adobe have yet to comment on the matter.