WASHINGTON, October 9, 2026 – Prominent Indian-American Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has strongly criticized the Trump administration’s recent decision to suspend major IT corporations, including Microsoft, from the employment-based green card programme. Jayapal, who represents Washington state—the home base of Microsoft—condemned the sweeping suspension, stating that the move undermines legal immigration and severely weakens America’s ability to innovate.
Reacting to the suspension of the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme for eight major tech companies, including several Indian IT giants, Jayapal accused the administration of consistently attempting to restrict legal pathways for highly skilled immigrants.
“You don’t fix a broken immigration system by taking a hammer to legal immigration,” Jayapal said in a statement on Thursday. She emphasized that the PERM programme sets out a clear, structured process designed to ensure that the hiring of foreign professionals benefits the US economy without harming American jobs.
Defending Microsoft’s track record, Jayapal highlighted the tech giant’s longstanding advocacy for comprehensive reforms to modernize what she termed an “antiquated immigration system.” She noted that the company has consistently pushed for creating more legal avenues for talented individuals from around the world to work in the United States and reunite with their families.
“Our economy, our communities, and our families depend on immigrants in many sectors, including the tech sector,” Jayapal asserted. She warned that “heavy-handed attacks like this only hurt efforts to build a strong, stable, and diverse base of workers who have legal pathways to come and be in the United States.”
Her robust defense of Microsoft quickly drew a sharp rebuttal from Vice President J.D. Vance, who has spearheaded the administration’s crackdown. Taking a dig at Jayapal’s progressive stance, Vance posted a mocking response, stating, “‘Socialism’ apparently means fighting like hell to ensure megacorporations have a never-ending flow of cheap labour.”
Despite the pushback from the administration, Jayapal was joined by fellow US Representative Suzan DelBene, who also condemned the suspension. DelBene criticized the move as a punitive application of the law that unfairly targets current H-1B visa holders and creates massive uncertainty for professionals seeking permanent residency, as well as for the broader American economy.
Published by True Roots Media Network