The Trump administration has stepped up its crackdown on the US immigration system, suspending major technology companies including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, Capgemini and HCL from the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme amid allegations of abuse of H-1B visas and the employment of foreign workers. US Labour Department official Keith Sonderling said the department has suspended some of the world’s largest IT outsourcing firms, including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini, from the Permanent Labor Certification Program. He also said Microsoft and Adobe have been suspended from the programme due to “multiple active federal investigations”. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance accused Microsoft of fraud. Vance said, “If you do the math, for every worker that Microsoft laid off, they replaced that worker with one and a half foreign indentured servants.” The administration’s move comes amid a broader crackdown on the H-1B visa programme, which Trump supporters have long accused of undercutting American workers and being vulnerable to abuse. Microsoft had not immediately responded to AP’s request for comment. The announcement comes a day after the administration proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking work authorisation through the Optional Practical Training programme. What is the H-1B visa programme of the US? The H-1B visa programme is a policy of the US government that allows employers to obtain the services of highly specialised non-immigrant professionals from other countries. Immigrants and non-immigrants are two different kinds of individuals who work in America. Non-immigrant visas are issued to professionals or aliens who wish to work temporarily in the US, while immigrants can live and work indefinitely in the country. According to the US Labour Department, “The intent of the H-1B provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the US workforce by authorising the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorised to work in the United States.” What happened to the H-1B visa programme in Trump’s second term? When the Trump administration assumed office, it started a crackdown on illegal and legal immigrants in the country. The government imposed stricter rules and conditions for the H-1B visa as well. Last year, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, a move that triggered widespread confusion and concern among Indian professionals either working in the US or planning to take up employment there. Beginning December 15 of the same year, the US State Department initiated stricter screening and vetting procedures for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, including reviews of their social media activity. Since then, multiple H-1B visa interview appointments across India have reportedly been pushed back by several months. As a result, many visa holders who travelled to India for stamping have found themselves stranded amid the prolonged delays. Post navigation Air India’s international flights to cost up to ₹17,000 more:Higher charges on domestic flights too, due to expensive fuel; IndiGo has already raised fares
