As major U.S. tech companies accelerate layoffs, their continued use of H-1B visas has sparked renewed scrutiny and criticism.
Despite cutting tens of thousands of jobs, firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google continue sponsoring foreign workers through the visa program.
“I don’t think you can disentangle these, they have reinforcing effects,” said Ron Hira, a Howard University professor and long-time H-1B critic. “They’re all competing for a shrinking labor demand.”
Critics argue the program undercuts American graduates, especially amid rising STEM unemployment. Jeremy Beck of NumbersUSA claimed, “It’s a program that displaces qualified Americans with cheaper workers from abroad.”
However, others dispute that claim. “We’ve got prevailing wage requirements,” said attorney Ben Nucci, noting median H-1B wages exceed $100,000.
Microsoft stated, “In the past 12 months, 78 percent of the petitions we filed were extensions for existing employees.”
President Trump’s administration is considering reforms, including a skills-based system. Yet, critics like Hira say, “It’s a small reform… many others are still needed.”