Microsoft Misused US Immigration System More Than Any Other IT Company, Vice President JD Vance Criticises Tech Giant

Washington: US Vice President JD Vance has accused technology giant Microsoft of exploiting the American immigration system to hire foreign workers while laying off American employees, arguing that the company should give greater priority to US workers.

According to Vance, Microsoft laid off approximately 6,000 American employees last year while also benefiting from thousands of H-1B visa approvals and a process involving nearly 3,000 green cards for foreign workers. He criticised the company over its employment practices and called on it to prioritise qualified American workers.

Vance said that Microsoft is a major American company but should focus on providing employment opportunities to talented Americans. His remarks highlighted concerns over the use of immigration programmes by major technology companies amid workforce reductions in the United States.

The controversy also concerns the PERM programme, which allows US employers, subject to specific legal requirements, to sponsor eligible foreign workers for permanent residency, commonly known as a green card. Restrictions on this process could delay or disrupt the permanent residency applications of affected foreign employees. However, such restrictions should not be confused with the cancellation of all existing H-1B visas.

The allegations have renewed scrutiny of the hiring practices of major technology companies and their reliance on foreign workers. However, the claim that Microsoft directly replaced laid-off American employees with foreign workers requires independent verification. The figures cited and the relationship between the layoffs and foreign-worker recruitment should be assessed against official records and the company’s response.

Vance’s remarks reflect the Trump administration’s stated emphasis on protecting American jobs and scrutinising the use of employment-based immigration programmes by large technology firms.