US suspends major tech firms from green card sponsorship programme

The suspension removes top-tier technology firms from the Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) visa category, a key pathway for foreign workers to obtain US green cards. Companies leveraging this programme have faced mounting criticism for potentially displacing domestic workers and creating conditions analogous to indentured servitude through sponsorship-dependent employment arrangements.

The programme allows employers to sponsor highly skilled foreign nationals for permanent residence, but critics argue the system has been exploited to suppress wages and limit worker mobility. Once sponsored for a green card, foreign employees often remain tied to their sponsoring employer, unable to freely change jobs without jeopardising their immigration status.

The suspension impacts a substantial portion of the global IT workforce seeking US permanent residency, as technology firms have historically dominated green card sponsorship. Industry observers anticipate the move will significantly alter recruitment and retention strategies for companies dependent on foreign talent.

The decision reflects growing scrutiny of how major technology corporations utilise immigration programmes. Policymakers have increasingly questioned whether current visa frameworks adequately protect both foreign workers and domestic employment opportunities, signalling potential broader reforms to employment-based immigration policy.