- USISPF backs US immigration integrity, highlights Indian contributions.
- India clarifies PERM's H-1B impact, criticizes Vance's remarks.
- MEA stresses mutual benefits of skilled professional mobility.
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has backed the US administration's efforts to prevent fraud and abuse in legal immigration programmes while highlighting the economic contributions of Indian Americans, following Washington's action against eight companies under the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme.
In a statement, USISPF said legal immigration brought significant economic benefits to the United States, adding that the government should protect the integrity of immigration pathways while maintaining a strong domestic job market.
The statement comes amid India's response to the US decision and criticism of Vice President JD Vance's description of H-1B visa workers as “indentured servants”.
We note the U.S. Department of Labor's recent action concerning the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program. We fully support the administration's efforts to prevent fraud and abuse in legal immigration programs, which undermines the domestic job market in the United States, and ensure these pathways operate with integrity and in accordance with their intended purpose. While supporting efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, we must also recognize the tremendous economic benefits that legal immigration brings to the United States. The Indian American community is a prime example. Generations of Indian Americans have come to this country through legal immigration pathways, worked hard, pursued education, built businesses, and become successful, tax-paying members of American society, like so many immigrant communities before them. Though the Indian American community is 1.5% of the total population of the United States, it contributes 6% to the GDP. They are the most educated and law-abiding citizens of the United States of America. Indian Americans co-founded 72 of the 648 unicorns in the United States in 2024, contributing to the United States' technological edge on the global stage and strengthening shared values between the two countries and cultures. We share the administration's goal of helping the United States succeed as a global technology leader by attracting the best global technology talent while sustaining a strong domestic job market: U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF)
— ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2026
USISPF Highlights Indian Americans’ Contribution
USISPF said generations of Indian Americans had entered the United States through legal immigration pathways, pursued education, built businesses and contributed to the country's economy.
“Though the Indian American community is 1.5 per cent of the total population of the United States, it contributes 6 per cent to the GDP,” the forum said.
It also stated that Indian Americans co-founded 72 of the 648 unicorn companies in the United States in 2024, highlighting their contribution to the country's technology sector and global competitiveness.
“We share the administration's goal of helping the United States succeed as a global technology leader by attracting the best global technology talent while sustaining a strong domestic job market,” USISPF said.
MEA Clarifies PERM Suspension, H-1B Visa Status
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the suspension of PERM applications for certain companies would not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of visa holders and their dependents. However, it cautioned that the move could affect the Green Card process for eligible employees of the companies concerned.
The ministry stressed that PERM and H-1B are separate programmes. While H-1B visas allow eligible foreign professionals to work in the US, PERM is a step in the employment-based permanent residency process.
The eight companies named in the US action are Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
India Calls JD Vance’s Remarks ‘Deeply Offensive’
The MEA also criticised Vance's description of foreign workers as “indentured servants”, calling the remarks “unwarranted” and “deeply offensive”.
The ministry said the comments overlooked the contributions of Indian professionals to the US economy and innovation ecosystem.
“Resorting to terminology that carries painful historical and colonial legacy connotations is deeply offensive,” the MEA said.
Vance made the remarks while discussing alleged visa fraud, claiming that some companies hired foreign workers at lower wages while laying off American employees.
The MEA, meanwhile, emphasised that the movement of skilled professionals benefits both countries by supporting innovation, research, productivity, competitiveness and job creation.
“Talent mobility adds value to both economies,” the ministry said, adding that the steps announced by the US did not advance the shared ambitions of India and the United States.
The ministry said it would continue to follow developments surrounding the issue.
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