Pramila Jayapal

Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has criticised the Trump administration's decision to suspend green card sponsorship processes for several major technology companies, warning that the move could hurt America's ability to attract and retain skilled workers.

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The US Department of Labor's enforcement action has temporarily halted the processing of applications under the Permanent Labor Certification programme, known as PERM, for companies including Microsoft, Adobe, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro.

The administration has defended the move by arguing that existing hiring practices can disadvantage American workers by limiting their access to jobs in the technology sector. However, the decision has drawn criticism from lawmakers and raised concerns about the future of foreign professionals seeking permanent residency in the United States.

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Jayapal, who represents Washington state's 7th Congressional District, which includes the Seattle area and is home to Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, said targeting companies that sponsor skilled immigrants was the wrong way to address problems in the immigration system.

“You don’t fix a broken immigration system by taking a hammer to legal immigration,” Jayapal said in an official statement.

Jayapal defends skilled immigration

Jayapal's criticism is also shaped by her own experience as an immigrant.

She moved to the US from India decades ago and navigated the legal immigration system, including working in the country on an H-1B visa early in her career. She later became a naturalised US citizen and rose to a senior position in the House of Representatives.

She argued that immigrants play an important role in the American economy and that restricting legal immigration pathways could undermine the country's ability to remain competitive in technology and innovation.

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Jayapal also pointed to Microsoft's longstanding support for comprehensive immigration reform, saying the company had advocated for changes to modernise the US immigration system.

The PERM programme is a key step in the process for many foreign workers seeking employment-based green cards. It generally requires employers to demonstrate that there are not enough qualified, available US workers for a position and that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed American workers.

In her statement, Jayapal warned that restricting the programme could have consequences beyond individual companies and employees.

“Our economy, our communities, and our families depend on immigrants in many sectors, including the tech sector, and heavy-handed attacks like this only hurt efforts to build a strong, stable, and diverse base of workers,” she said.

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“Targeting Microsoft or the PERM program in this way simply undermines legal immigration and weakens America’s ability to innovate.”

Indian tech workers among those affected

The suspension has raised concerns for foreign professionals whose employers sponsor them for permanent residency. Indian nationals make up a significant share of the skilled workers employed by major US technology companies, many of whom work in the country on H-1B visas.

Delays in employment-based green card processing can leave workers uncertain about their long-term residency plans, career choices and family arrangements. The impact could be particularly significant for employees who have already spent years navigating the US immigration system.

While the administration says its actions are intended to protect domestic workers, critics argue that restricting legal immigration could make it harder for US companies to recruit and retain global talent.

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