Brad Smith slammed the Trump administration on Monday for suspending H‑1B green‑card filings for Microsoft and seven other tech giants, saying the move was timed to coincide with President Biden awarding Satya Nadella a technology and science medal.
Smith highlighted that Nadella was once an H‑1B visa holder from India, and that the medal ceremony honored six immigrants who have built companies now worth more than 25% of the S&P 500. He added that the medal was awarded on the same day the White House targeted Microsoft’s foreign workers.
The company’s spokesperson said that of the roughly 6,000 H‑1B petitions filed last fiscal year, 80% were extensions or status changes for existing employees, while only 1% were for new hires—most of whom were already living legally in the United States. Microsoft also noted that it hired 9,000 U.S.-born workers last year, a figure the administration had omitted.
Microsoft has issued a statement demanding accurate data, stating it will supply the Administration with additional information on its visa applicants. The company also dismissed JD Vance’s allegations of visa fraud as “off‑base.”
Smith warned that the crackdown could send a chilling signal to top AI and software talent, pushing them to other countries. The policy remains under scrutiny, and Microsoft’s data submission may prompt a reevaluation of the administration’s stance on tech immigration.
The next step will be a review of the suspension by the Department of Labor, with Microsoft’s detailed filings expected in the coming weeks.