The massive layoffs announced by Oracle have triggered a fresh debate over the controversial H-1B visa program, with strong and divided reactions emerging online.
Oracle reportedly laid off around 30,000 employees globally, informing staff through a 6 AM email on March 31 that their roles had been eliminated as part of a broader organisational restructuring.
The sudden move has raised serious questions about job security and hiring practices.
The layoffs quickly reignited the H-1B visa debate, with many on social media questioning how many visa holders were employed by the company.
The H-1B program allows US companies to hire skilled foreign workers, but it has long been criticised for allegedly being used to replace American workers with lower-cost labour.
Amid this debate, Indian-origin US doctor Pradheep J Shanker made a strong statement, saying that all H-1B workers should be sent back before companies lay off American employees.
Responding to comments by Mike Cernovich, who questioned Oracle’s H-1B workforce, Shanker wrote: “The H-1B discussion hasn’t been totally fair or honest, but I absolutely agree — every single H-1B should be sent back before laying off Americans. At the very least, there should be no new H-1B applications for some time.”
His remarks have sparked intense reactions, with many supporting his stance, while others called it extreme and impractical.
Meanwhile, Oracle’s layoffs were not limited to the US. Reports suggest that around 12,000 employees in India were also affected as part of the same restructuring exercise.
However, not everyone agreed with the narrative linking layoffs directly to H-1B hiring.
Indian American Advocacy Council co-founder Sidharth countered the claim, stating that layoffs usually impact entire teams, affecting both American employees and visa holders alike.
“I understand the emotion, but that won’t work. When layoffs happen, they affect both Americans and visa holders in that department,” he said.
The incident once again highlights the growing tension around immigration, jobs, and corporate hiring practices in the US; especially at a time when large tech companies are cutting jobs while continuing to depend on global talent.