India Hits Back At JD Vance Over ‘Foreign Indentured Servants’ Remark Amid US PERM Suspension

India on Friday criticised US Vice President JD Vance for describing foreign workers as “foreign indentured servants”, calling the remarks “unwarranted” and saying they overlook the contributions of Indian professionals to the American economy and innovation ecosystem.

Vance made the comments on October 8 while defending the US decision to suspend the processing of Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) applications for eight companies, including major Indian IT firms.

In a video message addressing Microsoft and other affected companies, Vance said, “You cannot lay off American workers and then replace them with foreign indentured servants.”

MEA Clarifies Impact Of US PERM Suspension

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the US suspension would not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas. However, it could affect the green-card process for eligible employees of the companies concerned.

The US Department of Labor has suspended the processing of pending applications and stopped accepting new PERM applications for eight firms: Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.

The MEA emphasised that the PERM programme is separate from the H-1B visa programme.

“The suspension of PERM applications does not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of H-1B visa holders and their dependents, though there could be some impact on the permanent-residency/Green Card process of eligible employees of the affected companies,” the ministry said.

India Defends Contributions Of Indian Professionals

Reacting to Vance’s remarks, the MEA said Indian professionals in the United States are highly educated and skilled individuals who contribute significantly to the country’s economy and innovation ecosystem.

India also highlighted the role of immigration in shaping America’s economic growth and prosperity.

“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 said.

The ministry further criticised the use of terminology associated with painful historical and colonial legacies, describing it as deeply offensive.

India Says Talent Mobility Benefits Both Countries

The MEA said the movement of skilled professionals benefits both India and the United States by enabling American companies to access talent that supports innovation, research, productivity and job creation.

It added that the measures announced by Washington do not advance the shared ambitions of the two countries.

The dispute comes amid growing scrutiny in the United States over the employment of foreign workers through visa programmes, particularly the H-1B system, which allows American employers to hire eligible foreign professionals in specialised occupations.