80% of companies have an immigrant in a top leadership role—Trump's visa crackdown is forcing them to make a 'plan C,' warns immigration expert

In December 2025, both Apple and Google communicated a crucial message to their employees holding visas: Stay in the U.S. to avoid jeopardizing your ability to return.

This message came amid an intensified immigration enforcement effort by the Trump administration, which introduced new eligibility requirements for foreign workers applying for visas. These requirements included the stipulation that H-1B applicants and their dependents must set their social media privacy settings to "public" for evaluation. This increase in scrutiny extended the timelines for visa processing and approvals, adding layers of uncertainty to employees' travel and professional commitments.

During Fortune's Workforce Innovation Summit, Hiba Mona Anver, a partner at the Erickson Immigration Group, emphasized the need for companies to devise strategies for employees who face uncertainties in the visa approval process, as failure to do so could result in these individuals finding themselves stranded abroad.

"The critical concern now is whether this individual may encounter interruptions in their capacity to remain in the United States and continue working for the sponsoring company," Anver stated during her discussion with Fortune senior writer Phil Wahba. "There have indeed been cases where policy shifts have left employees stuck in India, separated from their families for extended periods; many of those affected have yet to return to the U.S., and these instances occurred just six months ago."

Foreign workers' economic impact

Foreign-born individuals constitute approximately 20% of the U.S. civilian workforce, with about 1% of all U.S. workers necessitating temporary visas. The contributions of these workers not only enhance the labor market but also stimulate consumer spending, culminating in an estimated $1.7 trillion in economic activity in 2023.

President Donald Trump has aimed to reduce the influx of foreign workers, arguing that such acceptance hampers wage increases for American laborers. However, the administration has at times issued conflicting messages regarding foreign labor: Trump imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications for highly skilled workers, while subsequently acknowledging that the U.S. lacked sufficient domestic talent to fill specific specialized positions.

Experts in immigration suggest that companies must now address increasingly stringent visa protocols and the potential for sudden changes or delays in these processes. Anver highlighted that the foremost method for businesses to shield themselves against visa processing unpredictability is to implement comprehensive policies that not only ensure compliance with immigration regulations but also include contingency strategies for cases where employees face expired visas or international entrapment.

"What companies really need to do is ensure they have not just a plan A, but also plans B and C in place," Anver advised.

Stakes are high for companies with foreign employees

David Bier, the director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, who spoke alongside Anver, framed organizational readiness concerning visas as essential not only for safeguarding individual employees but also for fostering overall workforce stability.

"It's crucial to recognize that many individuals navigating this process are already part of your workforce," Bier remarked. "Talent retention has effectively become the new recruitment."

According to a study by immigration legal services platform Alma, U.S. businesses spent nearly $900 billion addressing employee turnover in 2023. The data indicates that highly skilled foreign workers are twice as likely to leave their positions compared to those in less specialized roles. Bier noted that retaining skilled foreign workers is particularly vital due to their influential roles in organizations. Remarkably, 80% of companies have an immigrant or H-1B visa-holder serving as a CEO, chief technology officer, or vice president of engineering, with more than half of billion-dollar startups in the U.S. having immigrant founders or co-founders.

The potential costs of losing specialized talent underscore the importance for companies to stay informed regarding evolving immigration policies. This awareness enables them to navigate the procedures essential for retaining foreign-born employees effectively.

"Organizations must focus on ensuring these individuals maintain their legal status throughout this process," Bier emphasized. "Losing such talent could mean they may never return, and the next candidate to fill that role may not be readily available."