Washington, Oct. 16 -- Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith has warned that US President Donald Trump's crackdown on H-1B visas and green cards for highly skilled foreign workers could push top technology talent to other countries and undermine the competitiveness of the American tech sector for decades.

Speaking with POLITICO on the sidelines of the International AI Summit in Dublin, Ireland, Smith raised concerns over the administration's move to restrict permanent residency applications for skilled foreign employees at Microsoft and seven other companies.

"I think we should all be worried about sending - intentionally or inadvertently or otherwise - signals that send the most talented next wave of AI [or] SI software enginee...