Trump Admin Suspends PERM Access for IT Giants, Green Card Pathway Hit

UPDATED: Oct 9, 2026 12:04 ISTThe US administration has suspended access to the PERM labour certification program for major technology companies, including Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCLTech, Microsoft, and Cognizant, impacting the employment-based green card process for thousands of foreign professionals, especially Indians. US Vice President JD Vance stated that firms are under scrutiny over alleged visa fraud and accusations of replacing local workers with foreign labour, urging reforms to the H-1B visa system. Suspended companies cannot file fresh PERM applications while the freeze remains active. While Microsoft clarified that most visa applications were for extensions or local hires, Tata emphasized its strategy prioritizes local campus recruitment. Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSBJP Leads In Nandigram And Rejinagar Bypolls As Congress Demands CancellationThe Bharatiya Janata Party has taken a commanding lead in the West Bengal assembly by-elections for Nandigram and Rejinagar. In Nandigram, BJP candidate Hasirani Rath moved ahead by approximately 28,000 to 30,000 votes after early rounds of counting against Congress nominee Milan Pradhan, who is backed by the Trinamool Congress. The constituency recorded an 80.89 per cent voter turnout. Meanwhile, the Congress party has rejected the vote count, alleging severe electoral malpractices, booth-level irregularities, and administrative misuse. Calling the polling process a mockery, opposition leaders staged protests demanding the cancellation of results and fresh elections in both constituencies, while the BJP dismissed the allegations following enthusiastic celebrations by party workers.NDA Ally AINRC Wins Puducherry By-Poll; Leads in Bengal, TVK in Tamil NaduIn the recent by-elections across several regions including Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, and Assam, NDA ally All India NR Congress registered a victory in the Union Territory. AI-NRC candidate Ashok Anand secured the Thattanchavady seat by defeating Congress rival E. Ganaagam by more than eight thousand votes. The constituency had witnessed an 80.81 percent voter turnout during the polling. The seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Rangasamy chose to retain the Mangalam seat following the April assembly elections. While AI-NRC secured a comfortable margin in Puducherry, trends showed BJP expanding leads in Bengal and TVK leading in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.Tamil Nadu Bypolls: TVK Leads AIADMK in Dharapuram and MadurantakamCounting is underway for the crucial by-elections in Tamil Nadu's Dharapuram and Madurantakam assembly constituencies. The ruling TVK has established early leads in both seats during the ongoing rounds of vote counting. In Dharapuram, TVK candidate Satyabhama leads over AIADMK candidate Bhanumathi and DMK candidate Suganya. In Madurantakam, TVK maintains a comfortable lead against the AIADMK and the DMK. These by-polls were necessitated after sitting MLAs defected from the AIADMK to the TVK. For the TVK administration, securing victories in both constituencies is critical to attaining an absolute majority in the state assembly and eliminating reliance on external alliance partners over the next five years. Meanwhile, the contest serves as an important electoral test for the AIADMK under Edappadi K. Palaniswami and provides an opportunity for the DMK led by MK Stalin to regain political ground.Delhi Police Release Videos Urging Peace, Flag Provocation And MisconductThe Delhi Police have released official videos appealing to citizens for peace and urging people not to participate in unlawful protests or get provoked by misleading messages. In these videos, police officials highlight incidents where personnel faced deliberate instigation, obstruction of lawful duty, and abusive behavior, including indecent remarks and physical aggression directed at female police personnel. The police noted that while authorised media professionals are free to cover events, certain self-proclaimed journalists incite personnel to elicit reactions on camera. In addition, an appeal from a Delhi mosque showed an official requesting families and youths to stay away from unnecessary crowds and protests to ensure safety and maintain law and order. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita remains enforced in parts of New Delhi to prevent unlawful gatherings.