Hawkeye Reporter

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have raised concerns about the hiring practices of major U.S. corporations in the technology, finance, and retail sectors. The senators sent letters to 10 large employers questioning their use of H-1B skilled labor visas following significant layoffs of American workers.

“In evaluating the high unemployment rate for American tech workers, we cannot ignore the massive, ongoing layoffs ordered by you and your peers in Big Tech C-suites over the past few years … At the same time you have been laying off your employees, you have been filing H-1B visa petitions for [thousands of] foreign workers,” Grassley and Durbin wrote in their correspondence.

“With all of the homegrown American talent relegated to the sidelines, we find it hard to believe that [you] cannot find qualified American tech workers to fill these positions,” they added.

The senators are seeking detailed information from each company about their recruitment processes and any differences in pay or benefits between H-1B visa holders and U.S. employees.

This inquiry comes as unemployment among recent graduates with STEM degrees is reportedly higher than the overall national jobless rate, according to data from the Federal Reserve.

Grassley and Durbin have a history of working together on H-1B visa reform legislation. They are principal authors of the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act.

The companies contacted include Amazon, Apple, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Deloitte, Google, JPMorgan Chase, Meta, Microsoft, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Walmart. Some of these firms have faced investigations related to alleged discriminatory practices involving H-1B hiring or firing decisions.

For example:

- Amazon laid off tens of thousands of employees while receiving approval for 10,044 new H-1B hires in fiscal year 2025.

- Apple conducted multiple rounds of layoffs but was approved for 4,202 H-1B hires.

- Cognizant Technology Solutions received approval for 2,493 H-1B hires; a federal jury found it favored South Asian visa holders over Americans.

- Deloitte was approved for 2,353 H-1B hires; research indicated it pays visa holders less than citizens.

- Google laid off tens of thousands but received approval for 4,181 new H-1B hires.

- JPMorgan Chase made several layoff announcements yet was approved for 2,440 H-1B hires.

- Meta reduced its workforce significantly while being approved for 5,123 new visa holders.

- Microsoft laid off 16,000 staff members but received approval for 5,189 new hires under the program.

- TCS announced plans to cut over 12,000 jobs while being investigated by regulators regarding its employment practices; it was approved for 5,505 new visas.

- Walmart cited technological changes when terminating staff but received approval for 2,390 new foreign worker visas.