US History Shaped by Immigrants, India Says Amid H-1B Visa Row
Bdbusinessdaily.com – US history shaped by immigrants was at the centre of India’s response after US Vice President JD Vance made remarks about H-1B visa holders while discussing the suspension of PERM green-card applications for certain companies. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the comments about Indian professionals were unwarranted and failed to recognise their contribution to the US economy and innovation ecosystem.
Vance spoke on 8 October in a video message concerning Microsoft and other firms affected by the US decision on the Permanent Labor Certification programme, commonly known as PERM. He accused companies of laying off American workers and replacing them with lower-paid foreign workers holding H-1B visas.
“You cannot lay off American workers and then replace them with foreign indentured servants,” Vance said.
Vance Links Microsoft Layoffs to H-1B Visas
In his remarks, Vance said Microsoft had laid off 6,000 American workers during the previous year while benefiting from 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. He argued that the system had enabled companies to replace US employees with foreign workers.
Vance said the PERM programme would be suspended for Microsoft, meaning the company would no longer be able to submit applications that could help H-1B employees pursue permanent resident status in the United States.
The US Department of Labor suspended the processing of pending PERM applications and stopped accepting new applications for eight companies. The affected firms include Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
India Says Existing H-1B Visas Remain Valid
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the PERM action does not, by itself, affect the validity of current H-1B visas or the status of visa holders and their dependants. However, it said eligible employees at the affected companies could face consequences in the process of seeking permanent residency or a green card.
The ministry stressed that PERM and H-1B are separate programmes. H-1B visas allow eligible foreign professionals to work in the United States, while PERM certification is part of the employment-based permanent residency process.
India also said talent mobility benefits both countries. Skilled professionals help US companies through research, innovation, productivity and job creation, the ministry said, adding that the announced measures do not support the shared ambitions of India and the United States.
India Responds to “Deeply Offensive” Language
Responding directly to Vance’s comments, the ministry said Indian professionals in the United States are highly educated and skilled contributors to the country’s economy and innovation system. It said the description used by the vice president overlooked those contributions.
“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 said.
India said the phrase used in the remarks carried painful historical and colonial associations, calling such terminology deeply offensive. The statement underscored India’s position that US history shaped by immigrants should remain part of any discussion about skilled migration and the H-1B visa programme.
FAQ: What Does the PERM Suspension Mean for Indian Workers?
Does the PERM suspension cancel existing H-1B visas?
No. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the PERM suspension does not automatically affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the legal status of H-1B holders and their dependants.
What could be affected by the PERM decision?
The suspension could affect the green-card or permanent residency process for eligible employees of the companies named in the US Department of Labor action.
Which companies are included in the PERM action?
The affected companies are Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
Why did India raise the issue of immigration history?
India said US history shaped by immigrants demonstrates the longstanding role that immigrant workers, entrepreneurs and innovators have played in the country’s growth and prosperity.
