On Friday, the Trump administration halted the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) process for eight leading technology firms, citing allegations of fraud and misuse of green‑card sponsorship.
The companies—Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Capgemini—will no longer file PERM applications, a prerequisite for U.S. employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency.
PERM requires employers to prove that no qualified U.S. worker is available before granting a green card; the suspension reflects a broader crackdown on what the administration views as systemic abuse.
USISPF, a bipartisan U.S.–India forum, slammed the action, noting that green‑card and H‑1B programs generated $2.1 trillion in household income, $382.9 billion in federal taxes, and $196.3 billion in state and local taxes in 2022.
The forum highlighted that 1.5% of the U.S. population—Indian Americans—contributes roughly 6% of GDP and co‑founded 72 of 648 U.S. unicorns in 2024, underscoring the economic stakes.
USISPF said it supports the administration’s fraud‑prevention efforts but warns that blanket suspensions could undermine the domestic job market and the country’s tech leadership. The next step will be a congressional hearing next month to review the PERM policy, while affected firms have petitioned for expedited review of the suspension.