International
oi-Ashish Rana
US Vice-President JD Vance has admitted that his words may have been wrong after facing criticism for calling H-1B visa workers “foreign indentured servants”. However, he refused to change his stand on American jobs, saying his criticism was aimed at companies that misuse the immigration system, not foreign workers.
US Vice President JD Vance admitted his “foreign indentured servants” H-1B visa remarks might have been imperfect but defended his stance on companies misusing the immigration system, citing his Indian-American family. India condemned the comments as offensive.
During a CBS News town hall, Vance was questioned by an immigrant voter over his remarks. In response, he pointed to his own family, including his wife Usha Vance and her parents, who immigrated from South India.
What Did JD Vance Say About His Indian Family?
“You know where my family comes from, and I love my mother-in-law and father-in-law who immigrated from South India, and obviously their daughter, born in the United States of America, is now the second lady, and I’m very proud of her, and I love her very much,” Vance said.
He acknowledged that his “rhetoric may have been imperfect”, but insisted that his concerns about corporate hiring practices were justified.
Why Did Vance Call H-1B Workers ‘Indentured Servants’?
Vance argued that some companies hire foreign professionals while laying off Americans. He also raised concerns about the power employers hold over workers whose immigration status depends on their jobs.
The things we really need should be made by American workers – not in some overseas factory.That’s exactly what President Trump and this administration have been fighting for. https://t.co/vYG1wkueRm
— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 17, 2026
“Stop importing an indentured servant to do a job that an American worker would happily do,” he had said earlier this month.
What Triggered The H-1B Visa Controversy?
The controversy followed the US administration’s decision to suspend several companies from the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme.
Microsoft, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL and Capgemini were among the firms named.
PERM is part of the employment-based green card process. Its suspension does not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas, but it can affect permanent residency applications.
How Did India Respond?
India condemned Vance’s earlier language as “unwarranted and deeply offensive”, saying it ignored the contribution of skilled Indian professionals to America’s economy and innovation.
The Ministry of External Affairs also objected to the historical and colonial associations of the term “indentured servants”.
