Oracle Files Thousands of H-1B Petitions While Laying Off Thousands of Employees, Sparking Outrage
Key Takeaways
- ▸Oracle filed 3,126 H-1B petitions for fiscal years 2025-2026 while laying off thousands of employees, raising questions about the company's hiring practices and commitment to domestic workforce
- ▸Employee frustration centers on the perception that companies are using layoffs to cut costs while simultaneously importing cheaper foreign talent through visa programs
- ▸The controversy reflects broader criticism of H-1B visa programs, with supporters arguing they're essential for tech innovation while critics claim they disadvantage American workers
Summary
Oracle filed approximately 3,126 H-1B petitions for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, including 436 filings this year alone, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data. The filings came to light as the company, led by billionaire Larry Ellison, informed thousands of employees worldwide that they were being laid off on Tuesday, with affected workers receiving emails stating their roles were being eliminated as part of a broader organizational change. The timing has sparked significant outrage on social media and employee forums, with workers expressing frustration over what they perceive as Oracle simultaneously cutting American jobs while seeking to hire foreign workers through the H-1B visa program. Amazon similarly filed approximately 2,675 H-1B petitions during the same period while conducting massive layoffs totaling 30,000 corporate employees across two rounds of cuts.
- Tech industry layoffs reached 52,050 in the first quarter of 2026, a 40% increase year-over-year, with artificial intelligence cited as a primary driver of job cuts across the sector
