India criticises US green card curbs and calls JD Vance remarks deeply offensive

MEA Response

India stated that recent United States green card restrictions do not advance the shared goals of both nations and termed remarks by U.S. Vice-President JD Vance deeply offensive. The Ministry of External Affairs responded on Friday to the suspension of major Indian IT firms from the Permanent Labour Certification, or PERM, programme. According to The Hindu - National, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the developments following the suspension.

Visa Status and Impact

The ministry clarified that suspending PERM applications does not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas or affect the status of visa holders and their dependents. However, the ministry acknowledged that eligible employees of the affected companies could face some impact on their permanent residency and green card processes. India emphasised that talent mobility adds value to both economies by supporting innovation, research, productivity, competitiveness, and job creation in the United States.

Rejection of Vance Remarks

Addressing the comments made by JD Vance, the ministry said the remarks were unwarranted and carried painful historical and colonial legacy connotations. The release noted that US history was shaped by generations of immigrants whose labour and enterprise drove growth, making the terminology used deeply offensive.

Context

Temporary work visas like the H-1B allow foreign professionals to work in the United States for specific employers, while programmes like PERM represent a pathway for those workers to seek permanent residency. Talent mobility between India and the United States has long been a central pillar of economic ties, particularly within the technology sector where skilled Indian professionals work in significant numbers.