The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has strongly condemned US Vice President JD Vance's remarks describing H-1B visa workers as "indentured servants". The MEA termed the comments as "deeply offensive" and stated that it carries painful historical and colonial legacy connotations. The statement was released on October 9, 2026, in response to Vance's comments at a news conference on visa fraud.
Vance had stated that H-1B visa workers earn $20,000 less than American citizens in similar positions and accused foreign outsourcing firms of undercutting American workers' wages. He described the H-1B visa workers as "indentured servants" and claimed that corporations make a profit by undercutting the wages of American workers and replacing them with foreign workers. The MEA's response highlighted that such descriptions are unwarranted and ignore the contributions of Indian professionals to the US economy and innovation ecosystem.
The MEA emphasized that Indian professionals in the United States are highly educated and skilled contributors to its economy and innovation ecosystem. The statement also pointed out that 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 MEA added that resorting to terminology that carries painful historical and colonial legacy connotations is deeply offensive.
The US Department of Labor has taken a decision concerning the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme for certain companies, including major IT outsourcing firms such as Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini. The MEA clarified that PERM is distinct from the H-1B visa programme and that the suspension of PERM applications does not affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of H-1B visa holders and their dependents.
The MEA stressed that the movement of skilled professionals contributes to economic growth, innovation, and employment in both countries. The statement highlighted that talent mobility adds value to both economies, creating opportunities for Indians and helping US companies with cutting-edge talent, innovation, research, productivity, competitiveness, and job creation. The MEA expressed that the US decision does not advance their shared ambitions.
US Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling announced that the US Government is suspending some of the largest IT outsourcing firms from the Permanent Labour Certification Program. The suspension is due to multiple active federal investigations. Sonderling stated that the companies named had collectively sought millions of foreign workers and received hundreds of thousands of H-1B visa approvals and permanent labour certifications.
The MEA will continue to monitor developments surrounding the issue. The statement comes amid various developments in the US, including the proposal of new fees for F-1 non-immigrant students seeking to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT). The US Department of Homeland Security described the measure as an effort to protect American workers and strengthen the integrity of the immigration system.
Key points
- The MEA condemned Vance's remarks as "deeply offensive" and stated that it carries painful historical and colonial legacy connotations.
- The US Department of Labor suspended major IT outsourcing firms from the Permanent Labour Certification Program due to multiple active federal investigations.
- The MEA emphasized that talent mobility adds value to both economies, creating opportunities for Indians and helping US companies with cutting-edge talent, innovation, research, productivity, competitiveness, and job creation.
