“We have opted to discontinue visa and green card sponsorship for the majority of such roles in IBM Consulting,” an IBM spokesperson told Bloomberg.

Affected employees can continue working for IBM outside the United States or leave the company by the end of the year, according to a document shared with managers in the division this week and reviewed by Bloomberg.

IBM Consulting is one of the company's largest divisions, employing more than 150,000 people worldwide.

Immigration has emerged as a major flashpoint between US President Donald Trump's administration and technology companies, with the government repeatedly urging tech giants to prioritise training and hiring American workers.

Last year, as part of its tougher immigration policy, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, significantly raising the cost of hiring foreign skilled workers in the United States.