PERM Suspended Microsoft Adobe Green Card: JD Vance Turns Against Legal Immigration 2026

Vice President JD Vance has escalated political pressure on major corporations and universities over their reliance on legal immigration programs, specifically calling out Microsoft and Harvard. The criticism centers on the use of employment-based green card sponsorships and work visa pipelines that companies like Microsoft depend on to hire foreign talent. Reports indicate that PERM labor certification filings — a prerequisite for most EB-3 and EB-2 employment-based green cards — have been suspended or significantly delayed at major tech employers including Microsoft and Adobe. This reflects a chilling effect from political pressure on corporate immigration sponsorship, even within existing legal frameworks. For EB-3 applicants currently in the pipeline, these developments raise concerns about employer willingness to continue sponsorship in a hostile political climate. Applicants should proactively communicate with their HR and immigration counsel to confirm that PERM and I-140 filings remain on track. The broader narrative suggests that legal immigration — particularly high-skilled and employment-based categories — is facing unprecedented political scrutiny from within the current administration. This marks a notable shift from prior administrations where legal immigration enjoyed bipartisan support. EB-3 applicants are advised to monitor any employer communications about changes to sponsorship policies, secure approved I-140 petitions as early as possible to preserve priority dates, and consult with an immigration attorney about portability options under AC21 if employer circumstances change.