JD Vance says Microsoft is suspended from green card program after alleging abuse
Por Rebecca Santana — – World RSS Feed
JD Vance says Microsoft is suspended from green card program after alleging abuse
The H-1B visa program has long been targeted by Trump supporters
Rebecca Santana Thursday 08 October 2026 16:06 BST
- Bookmark
- Comments Go to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
Become an Independent member to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Already a member?
Log in
The Trump administration is suspending tech giant Microsoft from a program used to apply for green cards for employees residing and working in the U.S. on H-1B visas, alleging the company committed fraud.
“If you do the math, for every worker that Microsoft laid off, they replaced that worker with one and a half foreign indentured servants,” said Vice President JD Vance at a White House news conference announcing the decision on Thursday.
The H-1B visa program has long been targeted by Trump supporters, who argue that the system undercuts American workers and is plagued by abuse.
H-1B visas are intended for high-skilled roles that are hard to fill with American candidates.
Technology companies are the primary users of the program, with almost three-quarters of approvals granted to workers hailing from India.
Microsoft, which is headquartered near Seattle in Redmond, Washington, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
The statement by Vance came a day after Trump’s Republican administration launched a broadside against international students and their capacity to gain employment in the U.S.
On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security introduced a proposed $70,000 fee for international students seeking to work in the United States.
The measure would force academic institutions to pay the fee for every student enrolled in the Optional Practical Training program, or OPT, which allows students to hold jobs tied to their major during or following their education.
Vance also called out universities he claimed were abusing a scheme that permits foreign students into the U.S.
The temporary J-1 visas allow international participants to enter the U.S. for work and study exchange initiatives. Vance named nine universities he said required further investigation for J-1 visa fraud, alleging they utilized the program at higher rates than their counterparts.
More about
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Most popular
Popular videos
Bulletin
Read next
Fonte: – World RSS Feed
