OnShoringAmerica's Position:
Green cards should not be endless or indefinite. A person must naturalize as a U.S. citizen within 5 years of receiving green card status, or their Lawful Permanent Resident status should expire.
Permanent residency must come with a clear expectation of full assimilation and commitment to becoming American, not a lifetime alternative to citizenship.
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As of early 2026, approximately 10.8 million lawful permanent residents (green-card holders) are employed within the United States, representing 32% of the total labor substitution impact on U.S. corporate activity.
When coupled with other categories of non-citizen labor, enrollment, and emerging automation, the total reaches ~34 million:
- Offshore and remote foreign contractors: 12.3 million (36%)
- Onshore employed green-card holders: 10.8 million (32%)
- AI & Automation Systems (Emerging): 5.5 million (16%)
- Humanitarian or EAD workers: 2.8 million (8%)
- Temporary visa workers (H-1B, L-1, etc.): 1.7 million (5%)
- Foreign students (OPT/CPT/working): 0.9 million (3%)
Together, these groups represent the full scope of legal foreign labor substitution, enrollment, and technological displacement affecting U.S. corporations and universities — the same structure addressed in the OnShoringAmerica.com Framework for transparency and accountability.
(Sources: DHS, BLS, MPI, SEVIS, BEA 2025–2026 workforce estimates.
The pie chart below reflects the 2026 total labor substitution estimate of ~34 million headcount equivalents.)
Exact data on green card holders employed by specific corporations is unavailable due to privacy laws and the absence of a consolidated, publicly accessible database. Each position occupied by a green card holder can reduce job opportunities for a qualified U.S. citizen, particularly in competitive sectors.A green card, or Permanent Resident Card, grants many of the same employment rights as citizens, though restrictions apply, such as ineligibility to vote or hold certain federal positions.
International students on visas, such as F-1 visa holders, may work temporarily in the U.S. through programs like Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT). OPT allows up to 12 months of work authorization (with a possible 24-month extension for STEM fields), while CPT is tied to academic programs and requires enrollment in a related course.
These students are non-immigrants, distinct from permanent residents. International students contribute to the U.S. workforce, particularly in high-demand sectors. Their presence adds competition, displacing qualified U.S. citizens in entry-level or specialized roles.
Technology professionals often pursue the following employment-based green card categories:
- EB-1: Includes EB-1A for individuals with extraordinary ability and EB-1B for outstanding professors or researchers.
- EB-2: For professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, this category is common among tech workers with master’s degrees or higher.
- EB-3: Covers skilled workers, professionals, and others, including those with bachelor’s degrees or specific training.
The U.S. government collects aggregate data on employment-based green cards through agencies like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Labor (DOL), but it does not publish company-specific employment numbers for green card holders due to privacy and regulatory constraints.
Detailed data on employees with specific immigration statuses, including those with Form I-766 Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), is generally unavailable for the same reasons. EADs are issued to various groups, including green card applicants, asylees, and others with temporary work authorization.
For more information, consider these resources:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Publishes annual reports and data on employment-based immigration, available at uscis.gov.
- Department of Labor (DOL): Oversees labor certifications (e.g., PERM for green cards) and publishes labor market trends at dol.gov.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): Provides occupational employment data, including contributions from immigrants, at bls.gov.
Corporate Reports: Some companies disclose workforce diversity or immigration data in annual reports or SEC filings, though such information is limited and not comprehensive.