‘Indentured servants’: US green card move will hit thousands of IT workers

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   US Green Card Freeze Hits Major Tech Firms Over Fraud Allegations

   The Trump administration has suspended eight technology companies, including Microsoft, Adobe, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Wipro, from the Permanent Labor Certification Program. US Vice President JD Vance defended the suspension, accusing the companies of utilizing foreign labor to replace American workers and describing foreign workers as indentured servants. The move blocks a primary route for foreign tech professionals to attain permanent residency, though current H-1B visa holders do not appear to be directly impacted by the freeze.

   Why it matters

   The Permanent Labor Certification Program is a crucial step for employers aiming to sponsor skilled foreign employees for permanent US residency. The freeze broadens an existing crackdown on immigration and visa practices by the administration. Indian officials have criticized the remarks made by Vice President Vance as deeply offensive and stated the freeze undermines shared ambitions.

   What is confirmed

   • The Trump administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe, TCS, Infosys, and Wipro from the PERM green card program.
   • US Vice President JD Vance defended the suspension by accusing companies of replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labor and referring to them as indentured servants.
   • India condemned the comments made by US Vice President JD Vance regarding foreign workers as deeply offensive.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Analyst data shows Indian IT companies accounted for fewer than 1,400 of 117,849 PERM applications filed in fiscal year 2025.
   • Former HCL Technologies CEO Vineet Nayar stated the green card ban on the eight companies is not a major issue.

   What to watch next

   • Formal legal challenges from affected technology companies against the PERM suspension.
   • Further administrative actions or clarifications regarding the scope of the visa and green card fraud investigation.
   Sources used for this update (23)

   1. AP News — The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a green card program, alleging fraud
   2. AP News — Trump honors Microsoft’s CEO after Vance drops an H-1B visa hammer on the company
   3. The Economist — World in Brief: White House suspends tech companies from visa programme; Polanski fails to become MP
   4. Reuters — US green card suspension poses little risk to Indian IT, analysts say
   5. Al Jazeera — ‘Indentured servants’: US green card move will hit thousands of IT workers
   6. CNBC — India calls JD Vance's comments about immigrants 'deeply offensive'
   7. The Seattle Times — As Microsoft cut from green card program, workers have questions
   8. Fast Company — Microsoft and Adobe are suspended from H-1B visa program, with Vance accusing the tech giants of fraud
   9. KIRO 7 News Seattle — Local leaders issue statements on Microsoft green card restrictions
   10. The Times of India — Worry not about visa headlines: Former CEO of HCL Technologies Vineet Nayar says Green Card ban on 8 companies is not so big
   11. timesofindia.indiatimes.com — 8 IT firms including TCS, Infosys suspended from US green card programme: How does it hit Indian professi....
   12. www.aljazeera.com — ‘Indentured servants’: US green card move will hit thousands of IT workers | Business and Economy New....
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