It's been pointed out in other threads that 12,000 of Microsoft's 18,000 cuts are going to be outside the U.S. (primarily former Nokia employees), and the U.S. cuts likely include H-1B workers.
If they don't, it's probably because Microsoft selected the most talented of the most talented for H-1B and EB-2/EB-3 sponsorship. Microsoft is known to concurrently apply for an EB-based green card along with an H-1B, and most employees simply remain on H-1B status while waiting for their EB-based green card (which for certain nationalities, can take a decade to procure).
On the other hard, Microsoft having to cut jobs today, doesn't mean that all its arguments in the past decade have suddenly been undermined. A sudden bout of misfortune doesn't mean that its and Bill Gates statements on the utter brokenness of the U.S. immigration system was a lie, and in bad faith. If you remember, Bill Gates first testified in Congress about the problems with U.S. immigration system back in 2007, before the recession.
If they don't, it's probably because Microsoft selected the most talented of the most talented for H-1B and EB-2/EB-3 sponsorship. Microsoft is known to concurrently apply for an EB-based green card along with an H-1B, and most employees simply remain on H-1B status while waiting for their EB-based green card (which for certain nationalities, can take a decade to procure).
On the other hard, Microsoft having to cut jobs today, doesn't mean that all its arguments in the past decade have suddenly been undermined. A sudden bout of misfortune doesn't mean that its and Bill Gates statements on the utter brokenness of the U.S. immigration system was a lie, and in bad faith. If you remember, Bill Gates first testified in Congress about the problems with U.S. immigration system back in 2007, before the recession.