Outrage as Oracle makes thousands of foreign-worker requests amid layoff bloodbath
Thousands of Oracle employees were stunned on Tuesday when they received emails notifying them that their positions had been eliminated, even as the company had been actively seeking to hire foreign talent.
Data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shows that Oracle submitted around 3,126 petitions to employ H-1B workers in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. These petitions are required when U.S. companies want to hire foreign workers in specialized roles, particularly in technology. Of that total, 436 petitions were filed in 2026 alone.
Amazon, which announced in January that it would lay off 16,000 corporate staff, submitted approximately 2,675 H-1B petitions over the same period. This followed an October announcement of 14,000 corporate layoffs. Oracle’s hiring efforts for foreign workers have generated significant criticism online.
On the anonymous workplace forum Blind, users expressed frustration over the H-1B filings. One described them as a “slap in our face,” highlighting posts from U.S. employees who had been laid off after years at Oracle. Another wrote, “Look at all big tech companies, they do massive layoffs then rehire at lower salary.” A third user commented, “Transnational corporations are disloyal to the American state and the nation.”
Neither Oracle nor Amazon responded to requests for comment.
H-1B petitions allow companies to legally employ foreign workers when they cannot find Americans with the required skills. Corporations argue that the program is crucial for advancing high-tech innovation, while critics argue it can disadvantage U.S. workers. Petitions may also be submitted to renew or extend current H-1B visas.
Oracle’s layoffs coincided with a global reduction that affected “thousands” of employees. Emails seen by Business Insider stated, “After careful consideration of Oracle’s current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change.” Affected staff were informed that they would be eligible for severance according to the company’s policies.
The H-1B program drew national attention in September after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual fee on certain visa holders, causing concern among U.S. companies reliant on these workers.
Oracle’s cuts reflect broader challenges in the U.S. tech sector. The first quarter of 2026 saw 52,050 tech layoffs—a 40% increase from the same period last year, according to a report from executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Analysts attribute many of these job losses to the rise of artificial intelligence.
Meta announced in March plans to reduce its workforce by roughly 20%, impacting about 15,000 employees, according to Reuters.
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