Microsoft president Brad Smith has warned that restrictions on green card sponsorship for technology companies could weaken the United States’ ability to attract skilled workers and affect its competitiveness in artificial intelligence (AI).

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Decoded by Politico, Smith rejected allegations by US Vice President JD Vance that Microsoft had misused the H-1B visa programme, describing the claims as “completely off base”.

His comments come nearly a week after the US government announced restrictions preventing Microsoft, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and other companies from sponsoring green cards for skilled foreign workers.

Smith said the measures risked encouraging engineers to seek opportunities outside the US, particularly as countries compete for talent in AI and software development.

“I think we should all be worried about sending — intentionally or inadvertently or otherwise — signals that send the most talented next wave of AI or software engineers to other countries, rather than the United States,” he said.

Speaking on the contribution of immigrants to the American economy, Smith pointed to a group of recipients honoured by US President Donald Trump with technology and science medals.

“We should consider the fact that when the president honoured six Americans with these technology and science medals, five of the six had come to the United States as immigrants,” Smith said.

He added that the five individuals and their companies together accounted for more than 25% of the total market value of the S&P 500 index.

“Think about what those five individuals have done for the well-being, even the wealth and standard of living, of Americans across the country.

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