US Vice-President JD Vance has sought to clarify his controversial remarks describing H-1B visa workers as "foreign indentured servants", saying his "rhetoric may have been imperfect" while defending his position on immigration policy.
Vance invoked his South Indian in-laws while responding to criticism of his comments, saying he loved them and believed the United States should welcome immigrants who contribute to the country. However, he stressed that the American immigration system must also protect the interests of domestic workers.
"You know where my family comes from, and I love my mother-in-law and father-in-law who immigrated from South India," Vance said. He added that he was proud of his wife, Usha Vance, whose parents immigrated from India and whose daughter is now the Second Lady of the United States.
JD Vance calls for balance in US immigration policy
Explaining his position, Vance argued that the US should strike a balance between welcoming skilled foreign professionals and ensuring that American workers are not unfairly displaced.
He cited the example of a large corporation hiring a foreign accountant while claiming it could not find a suitable candidate locally, even as it dismissed an American accountant already on its payroll.
Vance said such practices were unfair to both the immigrant worker and the American employee. He maintained that his criticism was directed at corporate hiring practices and the immigration system rather than at immigrants who wanted to contribute to the country.
"I do think that we can strike that balance in the right way. I think that our immigration system has to balance," he said.
What sparked the H-1B visa controversy?
Earlier this month, Vance urged US companies to prioritise American workers and criticised their reliance on foreign labour. He said companies should stop bringing in foreign workers to perform jobs that American employees could undertake.
His remarks came amid the Trump administration's suspension of several companies from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme, an important step in the employment-based green card process.
The companies affected reportedly included major technology firms such as Microsoft, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL and Capgemini. The PERM process allows eligible employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency in the United States, subject to applicable requirements.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to the role of Indian professionals in the US workforce and the administration's efforts to prioritise domestic employment.
India calls Vance's remarks 'deeply offensive'
India had strongly criticised Vance's description of foreign professionals as "indentured servants", calling the remarks "unwarranted and deeply offensive".
The Ministry of External Affairs said the characterisation failed to recognise the contributions of highly educated and skilled Indian professionals to the US economy and innovation ecosystem.
The term "indentured servants" also carries historical significance, referring to workers bound by contracts and often subjected to exploitative conditions. During the colonial era, large numbers of Indians were transported to British colonies to work on plantations and in other labour-intensive sectors.
Vance's clarification comes amid continuing debate over H-1B visas, employment-based immigration and the balance between hiring foreign professionals and protecting opportunities for
