http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2009/db2009021_893728.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_top+story

Microsoft: Layoffs for Some, Visas for Others
The software giant that has pushed for more H-1B visas faces tough questions as it lays off 5,000
By Moira Herbst

Even as the economy hemorrhages jobs, many employers continue to advocate for fewer restrictions on importing foreign workers to fill specialized jobs. They say that while there's growing slack in the job market, there are still shortages of people to act as farm hands, nurses, and software engineers...Microsoft still has trouble filling such core positions as software development engineers, software architects, and program managers. Also, while the company will eliminate jobs in some business segments, it will continue to hire in emerging areas, including online services, search, and cloud computing.

Such explanations don't satisfy critics, who say employers are abusing the program to hire cheaper foreign workers who displace Americans, depressing U.S. wages and working conditions. Terzano says Microsoft is working with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services on reforming the program to prevent it from being abused in this way, but critics want tough legislative reform rather than administrative adjustments.

"Microsoft is laying off 5,000 workers," says Kim Berry, president of the Programmers' Guild. "Are we to believe that none of them would be qualified to fill these openings?"