Microsoft's brad smith warns trump's immigration policies could harm AI talent retention

Microsoft President Brad Smith warned that Trump's immigration crackdown could push top AI talent abroad, risking America's AI leadership. Smith cited concerns over deterring future AI engineers from staying in the U.S. His remarks followed the Trump administration's suspension of Microsoft and Adobe from a federal program that sponsors foreign workers for permanent residency. Smith refuted allegations of PERM program abuse, noting most visa applications were for existing employees, and Microsoft hired 9,200 American workers in FY2025. H-1B applications dropped 10% in FY2026’s first nine months, though data scientist applications rose 22.5%. Smith highlighted the economic contributions of immigrants, noting five of six recent tech/science medalists had immigrated, representing over a quarter of the S&P 500’s market value. He urged policymakers to recognize immigrant talent’s role in national prosperity. Restrictive policies have prompted some workers to seek opportunities in the UK, Germany, and Canada.