Microsoft Betrays American Workers: Approves 2,273 H-1B Visas While Cutting 1,600 Xbox Jobs
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Microsoft faces backlash after approving thousands of H-1B visas for foreign workers while laying off 1,600 employees in its Xbox division, fueling outrage over the displacement of American jobs.
Microsoft has revealed plans to eliminate 4,800 positions, including 1,600 jobs in its Xbox division, the maker of the iconic gaming console. At the same time, the company secured approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to sponsor 2,273 foreign workers under the controversial H-1B non-immigrant visa program.
A Microsoft spokesperson claimed the layoffs were due to business needs and insisted that H-1B workers were also affected. Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma blamed the division’s poor financial performance and low profit margins compared to other platforms, describing the cuts as part of a 'reset.' But these explanations ring hollow for many Americans who see their jobs vanishing while foreign labor is brought in.
Microsoft’s position as the sixth-largest user of the H-1B program, which overwhelmingly benefits workers from India, has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups. Rep. Riley Moore has called for an end to the program, and the Project for Immigration Reform has accused employers of exploiting it to undercut American workers. Vice President JD Vance has announced a Department of Labor investigation into alleged H-1B fraud.
Outrage has erupted on social media, with critics linking the layoffs to the surge in H-1B approvals and accusing Microsoft of replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labor. The company has refused to comment on these allegations, intensifying concerns about the erosion of American jobs and the prioritization of corporate interests over national workers.