US freezes green card applications from Microsoft, major IT firms over alleged fraud

The Trump administration has frozen green-card applications from major U.S. technology companies, including Microsoft and Adobe, as part of a crackdown on alleged immigration fraud, according to Vice President JD Vance. The freeze also includes probes into nine prestigious universities, widening the visa crackdown aimed at protecting American jobs. This broad action against skilled-worker immigration programs could potentially bar foreign tech workers from obtaining permanent residency in the United States.

Vice President Vance claimed that Microsoft was the worst offender, having laid off 6,000 American workers in the previous year while still benefiting from 6,300 H-1B temporary worker visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. The administration's announcement regarding the permanent labor certification process, known as PERM, was made shortly before President Trump was scheduled to award Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

Under the PERM process, employers must demonstrate that hiring a foreign worker is necessary, as it is a requirement for most employment-based green cards. The administration's actions come as they seek to protect American jobs and combat what they perceive as abuse of the immigration system.