India calls JD Vance's 'indentured servant' remarks 'deeply offensive' after US suspends Microsoft H-1B path

India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on Friday calling comments by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance about immigrants "deeply offensive," accusing him of using terminology with "painful historical and colonial legacy connotations."

The diplomatic rebuke follows the U.S. Department of Labor's announcement on Thursday that it would suspend Microsoft, Adobe, and several major Indian IT companies from its Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program, blocking their ability to apply for permanent residency for employees on H-1B visas. Vance warned companies that they "cannot lay off American workers and then replace them with foreign indentured servants."

Official data indicates that approximately 70% of H-1B visa beneficiaries in 2025 were born in India. The Indian ministry stated that such descriptions are "unwarranted" and ignore the fact that Indian professionals are highly skilled contributors to the U.S. economy. While assuring citizens that existing visa statuses remain valid, the exchange highlights growing friction over talent mobility policies between the two nations.