Big Tech reshaped immigration policy to recruit global talent. The newest wave of layoffs have left those immigrant workers stranded.

 

Big Tech reshaped immigration policy to recruit global talent. The newest wave of layoffs have left those immigrant workers stranded.

Iparraguirre Recio via Getty

Tech companies worked to maintain their hold on foreign talent, but recent layoffs leave the future of visa holders uncertain.

The last update to H-1B visa availability was nearly 20 years ago despite the massive changes in industry.

Employee sponsored-residency binds many immigrant workers to their current employers.

For nearly a decade, Silicon Valley has worked to sway the political pendulum of immigration policy.

Since 2013, some of the highest-valued companies in the world have pumped millions of dollars into lobbying efforts, including immigration policies that support their dominance over the limited number of  "high-skilled worker" visas in the United States.