Trump drops a bomb on the tech industry: eight giant companies affected

The Trump administration suspended eight technology companies, including Microsoft and Adobe, from the PERM green card program for foreign workers, alleging abuse of the immigration system. Simultaneously, investigations were opened against nine leading universities suspected of violating visitor exchange visa rules. Vice President Vance criticized Microsoft for laying off American workers while making unusual use of visas.

The Trump administration announced the suspension of eight major technology companies from the PERM program, a mandatory step for obtaining green cards for foreign workers. The list includes Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Capgemini. Vice President J.D. Vance harshly criticized Microsoft, stating that "no company in the United States has abused the system more than Microsoft," noting that the company laid off 6,000 American workers last year while making unusual use of visas. Simultaneously, investigations were opened against nine leading universities, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, and MIT, on suspicion of abusing visitor exchange visas. Microsoft responded that 80% of its H-1B applications were for extending the status of existing employees. These moves join previous strict immigration measures by the administration, including "Project Firewall" and a $100,000 fee on H-1B applications. While the administration sees this as protecting local workers, industry figures warn of harm to American innovation.