The USA Leaders
October 9, 2026
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. green card program suspension announced by the Trump administration on October 8, 2026, has placed Microsoft, Adobe, and several major IT service companies under new immigration restrictions.
Vice President JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced foreign tech workers green card suspension, citing concerns about the use of employment-based immigration programs.
The decision of green card program suspension of tech firms affects major technology companies, including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCLTech, and Capgemini.
What Is the U.S. Green Card Program Suspension?
Trump administration green card program suspension targets the Permanent Labor Certification program, commonly known as PERM. It is an important step in the employment-based green card process, allowing eligible employers to demonstrate that qualified U.S. workers are not available for a particular position under the applicable rules.
Following the announcement of the foreign tech workers green card suspension, the Labor Department said it would stop accepting new applications and processing pending PERM applications involving the affected companies.
The Trump administration green card program suspension is intended to encourage companies to prioritize American workers. However, the immediate change concerns employer-sponsored permanent residency applications, rather than an across-the-board cancellation of existing green cards or all work visas.
How Will the Trump Administration Green Card Program Suspension Affect U.S. Businesses and Workers?
The U.S. green card program suspension could have different effects on American employees, technology companies, and foreign professionals.
- U.S. workers: The Trump administration expects the move to encourage companies to hire more Americans. The actual effect on domestic hiring will depend on how companies adjust their recruitment and workforce plans.
- Technology firms: A pause in PERM processing could require affected companies to review their long-term staffing strategies and immigration-related procedures.
- Foreign tech workers: Employees relying on employer sponsorship may face delays in their route toward permanent residency. Their individual circumstances will depend on their current immigration status and application stage.
- The U.S. technology sector: Companies may need to reassess how they balance domestic recruitment with demand for specialized skills in areas such as software, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.
The longer-term effects will depend on how the U.S. green card program suspension develops and whether affected companies regain access to the program.
Green Card Program Suspension of Microsoft and Other Tech Firms
Microsoft is among the most prominent companies affected by the decision. The Trump administration has questioned the company’s use of foreign-worker programs, while Microsoft has defended its immigration practices.
According to reports, Microsoft said most of its H-1B visa applications were for existing employees rather than new hires. The company has also emphasized its compliance with immigration requirements. The green card program suspension of Microsoft has caught its foreign employees off-guard.
Adobe is also affected, alongside major IT services providers. The suspension of these companies’ access to employment-based green card processing could influence their future talent strategies, particularly when employees view permanent residency as an important part of their long-term career plans.
The green card program suspension of tech firms also extends beyond U.S.-headquartered software companies. It includes several IT services businesses with significant operations and client engagements in the American market.
What Do the Affected Companies Have to Say About the U.S. Green Card Program Suspension?
The affected company responses suggest that the impact of the U.S. green card program suspension will vary depending on each firm’s workforce strategy and reliance on employment-based immigration.
Tata Consultancy Services said on October 9 that it did not expect the U.S. green card program suspension to have a material impact on its workforce strategy or client engagements. Reports say TCS said its PERM applications had remained in the single digits over the previous two years.
TCS also reiterated plans to hire an additional 15,000 employees in the United States over the next five years, with a focus on local recruitment and campus hiring.
The green card program suspension of Microsoft has prompted the company to defend its hiring practices and visa applications. Adobe’s participation has also been suspended, though reports have not provided a detailed response from the company.
These responses suggest that businesses are assessing the change based on their existing workforce arrangements and reliance on employment-based immigration.
What Does the Foreign Tech Workers Green Card Suspension Mean For the Employees?
For foreign professionals working in the United States, employer-sponsored permanent residency can provide a pathway from temporary work status to long-term settlement.
The foreign tech workers green card suspension could make that process less predictable for employees whose applications depend on the affected employers. Workers may need to review their current immigration status, pending applications, and available options with qualified immigration advisers.
The green card program suspension of tech firms does not automatically mean that every foreign employee must leave the country. Its direct impact is on the affected companies‘ participation in the PERM process, and individual outcomes will depend on the circumstances of each worker.
What Comes Next for U.S. Technology Companies?
According to JD Vance’s press address, the U.S. green card program suspension introduces another consideration for technology companies planning recruitment, employee retention, and long-term operations in America.
For U.S. workers, the Trump administration expects the decision to support domestic hiring.
For employers, the immediate priority will be understanding how the restrictions affect workforce planning and business continuity. Those affected by the foreign tech workers green card suspension will be watching for updates that clarify their options and expected timelines.
The green card program suspension of tech firms pauses their participation in a federal program that helps them sponsor skilled foreign workers for U.S. permanent residency.
As the Trump administration green card program suspension develops, balancing domestic hiring, access to specialized skills, and employment-based immigration will remain important for the future of the U.S. tech workforce.
Neelmani Yadav
