World · South & Central Asia · 1 day ago
India condemns Vance’s remarks as US curbs green card filings at IT firms
India has condemned US Vice-President J.D. Vance for describing foreign workers as “indentured servants,” a term India says carries painful historical and colonial associations.
The dispute follows a US suspension of green card-related labour certification filings at eight technology companies, including Indian firms Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant and HCL.
The US administration says the action is part of a crackdown on alleged visa abuse and claims foreign hiring can undercut American workers.
The filings involve the PERM process, which employers use to sponsor some foreign workers for permanent residency.
India says skilled workers benefit both countries and called the US restrictions contrary to their shared ambitions.
India’s ministry said the suspension does not itself affect existing H-1B visas, but could affect eligible workers’ path to permanent residency; no further outcome is stated.
The United States suspended the processing of PERM labor-certification applications from eight technology companies, including five Indian firms.
India condemned Vice-President J.D. Vance’s description of foreign workers as “indentured servants” as unwarranted and deeply offensive.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the restrictions did not advance the countries’ shared ambitions and that skilled-worker mobility benefits both economies.
The U.S. administration said the measures were part of a crackdown on alleged visa-system abuse and protection of American workers.
The suspension may affect eligible employees’ paths to permanent residency but does not, by itself, invalidate existing H-1B visas.
- Who
- The U.S. administration and Vice-President J.D. Vance announced the restrictions. India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the measures and Vance’s remarks.
- What
- The U.S. suspended PERM labor-certification processing for eight technology companies. India called the restrictions counter to shared interests and described Vance’s remarks as offensive.
- When
- The measures were announced on October 8, 2026. India issued its response on October 9.
- Where
- The measures concern companies operating in the United States and foreign workers seeking U.S. permanent residency.
- Why
- The U.S. said it was addressing alleged abuse of worker-visa programs and protecting American jobs. India said talent mobility benefits both countries.
U.S. administration
Indian government
PERM restrictions
U.S. administration
The measures target alleged abuse of foreign-worker programs and aim to protect American workers.
Indian government
The restrictions do not advance shared ambitions and may disrupt eligible workers’ paths to permanent residency.
Foreign workers
U.S. administration
Vance argued that some companies use foreign workers to undercut wages and replace American workers.
Indian government
India said Indian professionals are highly educated, skilled contributors to the U.S. economy and innovation.
Talent mobility
U.S. administration
The administration said companies should hire more American workers.
Indian government
India said movement of talent benefits both countries, including U.S. firms and workers.
Res resorting to terminology that carries painful historical and colonial legacy connotations is deeply offensive
We’re trying to make it harder for major corporations to undercut the wages of American workers and bring in indentured servants to replace American jobs
The steps announced by the US do not advance the shared ambitions of both countries.
You [the Companies] bring in indentured servants from outside the country. You lay off American workers. And if you’re a corporation, you make a ton of money by undercutting the wages of American workers, replacing them with people who frankly shouldn’t be in the United States of America to begin with
J.D. Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the suspension of PERM processing for eight technology companies.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned Vance’s remarks and said the U.S. steps did not advance the countries’ shared ambitions.
Vance repeated his criticism of companies hiring foreign workers while answering reporters’ questions.
- Companies affected
- Eight, including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Microsoft, Adobe and Capgemini
- Indian firms affected
- Five: Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and HCL Technologies
- Program
- Permanent Labor Certification (PERM)
- Announcement date
- October 8, 2026
- India’s response
- October 9, 2026
- Existing H-1B visas
- PERM suspension does not by itself affect their validity
Sources
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