Trump Administration Suspends Microsoft and Adobe From Green Card Sponsorship
The Trump administration has blocked Microsoft and Adobe from using the PERM program to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency, citing fraud allegations. Vice President JD Vance said Microsoft had abused the system more than any other company. The move escalates efforts to limit legal immigration pathways, after courts rejected earlier H-1B fee increases.
Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, appearing with Vice President JD Vance, said Microsoft and Adobe would lose access to PERM, the permanent labor certification route that lets employers seek green cards for H-1B staff. The administration alleges fraud and claims the program has been used to favor lower-cost foreign labor over American workers. Vance singled out Microsoft, saying no U.S. company had misused the system more than it had. Microsoft and Adobe did not immediately comment.
The Labor Department reported 104,028 permanent-worker certifications so far this fiscal year, down from 138,093 in the prior fiscal year. The action follows failed attempts to impose $100,000 H-1B employer fees, which federal judges rejected.
The suspension may delay or derail green-card paths for affected H-1B employees at Microsoft and Adobe, creating uncertainty for them and their families. It could also prompt other firms to reassess PERM use, potentially shifting hiring or retention strategies. Broader legal immigration pathways may face further scrutiny, though actual effects depend on litigation, policy details, and how companies respond.