Microsoft president warns green-card curbs could hurt US tech, Politico reports

Oct 15 (Reuters) - Microsoft ‌President Brad ​Smith ​warned the Trump administration's move to restrict green-card access for skilled foreign ‌workers could hurt US technological competitiveness and drive talent ⁠overseas, Politico reported on Thursday.

In the interview, Smith ‌also pushed back against ‌Vice President JD Vance's accusations that Microsoft had abused the H-1B visa program, calling ​them "completely off base".

Here are some details:

• His comments came less than a week after ⁠Vance announced the administration would bar Microsoft and seven other ​companies from seeking green cards for skilled foreign workers

• Smith said efforts to ​block pathways to permanent ‌residency for highly skilled immigrants could "cripple" the US technology sector for more ⁠than a generation, Politico reported

• The White House and Microsoft did not immediately respond to Reuters' ⁠requests for comment

• The Microsoft executive also denied foreign-born ​employees were paid less than American workers, saying the company uses the same compensation system for all employees ‌regardless of immigration status

• Smith said Microsoft hired more than 9,000 ‌US-born workers last year, arguing that contribution ⁠had been overlooked in ‌the administration's criticism, ​according to the report

(Reporting by Prathik Jayaprakash in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay ‌Kishore)

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