{
  "id": 12929495,
  "title": "US freezes green-card processing for Microsoft, Adobe workers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/us-freezes-green-card-processing-for-microsoft-adobe-workers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T19:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/us-freezes-green-card-processing-for-microsoft-adobe-workers/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The United States government has temporarily halted the processing of employment-based green-card applications for major technology companies like Microsoft, Adobe, and others, citing concerns over the alleged abuse of the skilled-worker immigration system. This decision, announced by the Trump administration, targets companies including Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, and Cognizant, among others. The Labor Department will no longer accept new applications or process pending ones for permanent labour certification, which is essential for employers seeking to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residence in the US. This move is part of a broader crackdown on immigration practices, with US Vice President JD Vance accusing Microsoft of being the most egregious offender for allegedly laying off American workers while continuing to use the H-1B visa program and seek green cards for foreign workers. Microsoft refuted these claims, stating that the majority of its H-1B applications are for existing employees seeking extensions or status changes. The Labour Secretary, Keith Sonderling, confirmed that the suspension will remain in place as the administration investigates the companies' compliance with the permanent labour certification system.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TechCrunch",
        "title": "US bars Microsoft, Adobe, and major IT firms from green card program for skilled foreign workers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/us-bars-microsoft-adobe-and-major-it-firms-from-green-card-program",
        "published": "2026-10-08T15:42:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC Technology",
        "title": "U.S. suspends Microsoft, Adobe from green-card labor program in foreign worker crackdown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/u-s-suspends-microsoft-adobe-from-green-card-labor-program-in-foreign",
        "published": "2026-10-08T15:51:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Indian IT Firms Suspended From US Programme Sponsoring Workers For Green Card",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/indian-it-firms-suspended-from-us-programme-sponsoring-workers-for",
        "published": "2026-10-08T17:02:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "US suspends Microsoft and Adobe from visa programme amid fraud claims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/us-suspends-microsoft-and-adobe-from-visa-programme-amid-fraud-claims",
        "published": "2026-10-08T17:25:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "US freezes green-card processing for Microsoft, Adobe workers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/us-freezes-green-card-processing-for-microsoft-adobe-workers-12933351",
        "published": "2026-10-08T19:20:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "US suspends Microsoft, Adobe from filing for green cards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/us-suspends-microsoft-adobe-from-filing-for-green-cards",
        "published": "2026-10-08T20:04:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}