India has criticised US Vice President JD Vance’s remarks about foreign workers, describing them as “unwarranted” and “deeply offensive”, while defending the contribution of Indian professionals to the American economy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said talent mobility benefits both countries, highlighting the role of skilled Indian workers in strengthening innovation, improving productivity and supporting job creation in the United States. The response comes amid renewed scrutiny of employment-based immigration programmes and the hiring of foreign professionals by American companies. The MEA’s statement followed Vance’s criticism of Microsoft over its use of the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme. Vance accused the technology company of abusing the system to replace American workers with foreign employees. Emphasising the need to prioritise domestic employment, he said companies should hire “great American workers” rather than replace them with “foreign indentured servants”.

His comments drew a strong response from New Delhi, which rejected the characterisation of foreign professionals and defended their contribution to the US workforce. India argued that such descriptions overlook the qualifications, expertise and economic value of skilled workers who contribute to American businesses and innovation. Responding to the remarks, the MEA said Indian professionals working in the United States are highly educated and skilled contributors to its economy and innovation ecosystem. The ministry also objected to the terminology used by Vance, arguing that it carried painful historical and colonial associations. Describing the language as deeply offensive, India stressed that the contributions of immigrants have been an important part of America’s economic development and prosperity. The response reflected New Delhi’s position that foreign professionals should be recognised for their skills and contributions rather than portrayed as a burden on domestic employment.

India’s argument centres on the economic benefits of international talent mobility. Indian professionals work across several sectors of the American economy, particularly technology and engineering, where specialised skills and expertise are important to business operations and innovation. Their participation in the workforce enables companies to access talent and support research, development and productivity. India has maintained that the movement of skilled workers can benefit both the host country and the country from which those professionals originate. While US policymakers continue to debate how immigration rules affect domestic employment, New Delhi has emphasised that the contributions of foreign workers should be considered alongside concerns about protecting opportunities for American employees.

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The MEA also clarified the implications of the US decision to suspend PERM applications for certain companies, stating that the measure does not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas. The distinction is important because the two programmes serve different purposes within the US immigration system. PERM is a labour certification process generally associated with employment-based permanent residency applications. It requires employers to follow procedures intended to establish that hiring a foreign worker for a particular permanent position meets applicable labour-market requirements. A suspension affecting PERM applications can therefore affect the permanent residency process for workers covered by the measure, depending on the circumstances and applicable rules.

The H-1B programme, by contrast, allows eligible US employers to employ foreign professionals temporarily in specialised occupations, subject to the programme’s requirements. An existing H-1B visa is distinct from a PERM labour certification application, and a suspension of the latter does not automatically cancel the former. However, the MEA’s clarification should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every worker’s immigration status remains unaffected under all circumstances, as individual cases can depend on visa validity, employment conditions and other applicable requirements. The ministry’s statement addressed the direct implications of the PERM suspension rather than suggesting that the two immigration processes are interchangeable.

The dispute highlights the continuing tension in the United States between efforts to protect domestic employment and the demand for specialised international talent. American companies have relied on skilled foreign professionals to fill positions requiring technical expertise, while policymakers and labour advocates have raised concerns about how recruitment practices may affect local workers. India’s response does not dismiss the importance of domestic employment in the US; instead, it challenges language that portrays foreign professionals as exploitative replacements and stresses their contribution to economic growth. By defending Indian workers and clarifying the distinction between PERM applications and H-1B visas, New Delhi has sought to address both the political rhetoric surrounding immigration and concerns about the consequences of employment-related policy decisions. The exchange underscores the importance of balancing domestic workforce priorities with the economic advantages associated with international talent mobility.

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