Google job cuts: Why it means more bad news for employees seeking green card

Google seems to have more bad news for employees eyeing US green card. The company has reportedly paused its Program Electronic Review Management (PERM), a key step in acquiring an employer-sponsored green card. PERM is an application to obtain certification from the Department of Labor (DOL) for a specific job position in a specific location at a specific time. A PERM application is a crucial first step in the green card (permanent residence) process. The process requires companies to demonstrate that there are no qualified US workers available for the particular role, however, with widespread layoffs in the US this may not be easy for the technology companies.
Some Twitter users have shared an email said to be sent by the company to foreign employees, notifying them that the tech giant will pause any new filings of PERM. A Google employee posted the email on Team Blind, an anonymous social networking site for certified IT workers. However, the post has now been deleted.

Google, however, clarified that it will continue to support PERM applications that have already been submitted. The current PERM rules have been in place since 2005.
Here’s the email reportedly sent by Google to foreign staff:
Hi everyone,
Recognizing how this news may impact some of you and your families I wanted to update you as quickly as possible on the difficult decision we’ve had to make to pause new PERM applications. This does not impact other visa applications or programs
What is the PERM program?
A PERM application is a critical first step in the green card (permanent residence) process. The process requires employers to demonstrate that there are no qualified U.S. workers available for the particular role, which has been an increasingly difficult position for us to support given the labor market today.
Why are we pausing new PERM applications?
With a number of tech companies announcing reductions in their workforce (hiring pauses / layoffs) there has been an increase in people looking for jobs.
As a result, we, along with other tech companies, have seen a notable increase in the number of PERM cases audited by the Department of Labor (DOL) for tech roles–which we believe is a result of more talent being available in the U.S. job market.