Oracle Faces Backlash Over H-1B Visa Requests Amid Mass Layoffs

Tech giant filed thousands of petitions to hire foreign workers even as it cut thousands of U.S. jobs

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:21am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D macro illustration of a complex circuit board or data center infrastructure, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the intricate components, conceptually representing the scale and complexity of the technology powering the tech industry while hinting at the human impact of automation and layoffs.As tech giants like Oracle leverage foreign labor to cut costs, the human toll of automation and layoffs casts a shadow over the industry's digital infrastructure.Austin Today

As Oracle announced mass layoffs impacting thousands of employees, the company faced backlash for simultaneously filing thousands of petitions to hire foreign workers on H-1B visas. Critics accused Oracle of prioritizing cheaper foreign labor over American workers, calling the move a "slap in the face" to terminated employees.

Why it matters

The Oracle layoffs and H-1B visa requests highlight ongoing tensions around the use of foreign tech workers, with critics arguing the program disadvantages American workers. The backlash also comes amid a broader wave of tech industry job cuts, raising concerns about the impact of automation and AI on domestic employment.

The details

According to government data, Oracle filed for roughly 3,126 H-1B visa petitions in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, including 436 this year alone. This came as the company informed "thousands" of workers worldwide that they were being laid off. Amazon, which also announced major layoffs, filed for 2,675 H-1B petitions during the same period. Critics accused Oracle of prioritizing cheaper foreign labor over American workers, with one anonymous employee calling the H-1B requests a "slap in our face."

  • Oracle informed employees of the mass layoffs on Tuesday, April 2, 2026.
  • Oracle filed approximately 3,126 H-1B visa petitions in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, including 436 this year.

The players

Oracle

A major technology company that filed thousands of petitions to hire foreign workers on H-1B visas even as it conducted mass layoffs of U.S. employees.

Amazon

Another tech giant that filed thousands of H-1B visa petitions while also announcing major layoffs of its own corporate workforce.

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What they’re saying

“If this doesn't make you angry, maybe you need to read some heartfelt posts on LinkedIn from Oracle employees who are US citizens and have been laid off after working at Oracle for years.”

— Anonymous Blind user, Oracle employee

“Look at all big tech companies, they do massive layoffs then rehire at lower salary.”

— Anonymous commenter

“Transnational corporations are disloyal to the American state and the nation.”

— Anonymous commenter

What’s next

The backlash over Oracle's H-1B visa requests amid layoffs is likely to fuel ongoing debates over the use of foreign tech workers and the impact of automation on American jobs.

The takeaway

This case highlights the tensions between tech companies' reliance on foreign labor and the impact on domestic workers, especially as the industry faces broader economic headwinds and automation-driven job losses. It raises questions about the fairness and long-term implications of the H-1B visa program.