Microsoft approves thousands of H-1B visas while Xbox cuts 1,600 jobs
Fox News • • business
Key Points:
- Microsoft announced layoffs of 4,800 employees, including 1,600 from its Xbox division, despite being approved to hire 2,273 foreign workers under the H-1B visa program this year, sparking public outrage.
- Critics accuse Microsoft and other tech companies of replacing American workers with foreign visa holders to cut labor costs, with some calling for prison sentences and an end to the H-1B program.
- Microsoft stated layoffs were driven by business needs, not visa status, and that H-1B workers were also affected, while Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cited poor financial health and a need to "reset" the division.
- Vice President JD Vance announced a federal investigation into H-1B visa fraud, emphasizing that American jobs should prioritize American workers and condemning abuses of the visa program.
- Efforts to limit H-1B visa use, including a proposed $100,000 fee by former President Trump, have faced legal challenges, with a federal judge striking down the fee as an unauthorized tax.
