New Delhi has issued a strong rebuke to the United States following Vice President JD Vance's controversial "indentured servants" comments about H-1B visa holders and Washington's decision to suspend major Indian IT companies from the Program for Electronic Review Management (PERM) green card processing framework.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on October 9 rejected Vance's remarks, calling them "unwarranted and deeply offensive." The MEA emphasized that Indian professionals in the United States are highly educated, skilled contributors to its economy and innovation ecosystem.
US Justification and India's Rebuttal
The US administration framed the PERM suspension as a measure to protect domestic employment and address potential wage suppression. This move halts the permanent-residency certification process for foreign workers employed by affected Indian IT service firms, including industry giants like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro.
Vance had previously accused Microsoft and other major technology corporations of exploiting the H-1B visa system to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign staff, likening these foreign employees to "indentured servants."
In response, the MEA highlighted the historical contributions of immigrants to the United States, stating, "Indeed, the history of the United States itself has been shaped by generations of immigrants whose labour, enterprise and innovation have contributed to its growth and prosperity." The ministry added that "resorting to terminology that carries painful historical and colonial legacy connotations is deeply offensive."
Economic Impact and Ongoing Dialogue
Addressing the economic rationale provided by Washington, the MEA asserted that the cross-border movement of skilled personnel benefits both nations. "Talent mobility adds value to both economies. While it creates opportunities for Indians, it equally helps US companies with cutting-edge talent, innovation, research, productivity, competitiveness and job creation, besides creating shareholder wealth in the US," the MEA statement read.
India confirmed it remains in communication with US authorities to resolve concerns regarding the movement of Indian professionals and the operational status of Indian information technology firms within the United States.