PERM Suspended: J.D. Vance Announces 2026 Immigration Action Against Microsoft & Adobe

Vice President J.D. Vance announced significant federal immigration enforcement actions directed at Microsoft, Adobe, and other large technology and corporate employers, marking a major escalation in the administration's scrutiny of employment-based immigration programs. The announcement specifically targets PERM labor certification processes, which are a mandatory first step for most EB-3 and EB-2 employment-based green card applications. For employees currently in the PERM pipeline at affected companies, the action raises immediate concerns about the continuity of pending labor certification applications. Suspensions or delays in PERM approvals can have cascading effects on I-140 immigrant petition filings and ultimately on priority dates, potentially pushing back green card timelines for thousands of skilled workers, professionals, and other workers in the EB-3 category. Employees at named companies are advised to consult with their employer's immigration counsel to understand the specific scope of the announced actions, whether pending PERM cases will be held in abeyance, and what steps — if any — can be taken to protect their place in the employment-based immigration queue. Those with approved I-140 petitions may have more options than those still in early PERM stages. This development is part of a broader pattern of heightened enforcement and policy changes in 2026 affecting employment-based immigration across multiple visa categories. EB-3 applicants at companies not yet named should also monitor for any expansion of these enforcement actions, as the administration has signaled that additional employers may be subject to similar scrutiny.