JD Vance clarifies 'indentured servants' remark on H-1B visas after pushback from India

US Vice President JD Vance has conceded that his description of H-1B visa workers as "indentured servants" was "imperfect", following strong, unambiguous condemnation from India over the offensive terminology.

Speaking at a CBS Town Hall, Vance sought to dial back his earlier rhetoric by clarifying that his criticism was directed at major corporations and the US visa structure, rather than the highly skilled professionals working under the H-1B program. Invoking his personal ties to India, Vance highlighted his affection for his wife Usha Vance’s family, who immigrated to the United States from South India.

"To the extent my rhetoric has been imperfect, that's on me," Vance said during the town hall. He added: "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."

What Vance said about the H-1B visa system

Vance asserted that his previous remarks were intended to highlight structural flaws in the immigration system that grant employers excessive leverage over foreign talent. Under current regulations, an H-1B worker’s legal status in the US depends entirely on their sponsoring employer, which Vance argued leaves workers vulnerable to potential exploitation.

"When I say indentured servitude, that is not a criticism of H-1B visa holders; that is the criticism of the company," Vance stated, explaining that employees who disagree with management risk losing their job and being forced to return to their home country.

The Vice President had previously sparked a diplomatic controversy during a news conference on visa fraud, where he accused foreign outsourcing firms of undercutting American wages and using temporary visas to replace domestic staff.

How India defended its global workforce

New Delhi delivered a swift and firm rejection of Vance’s original statements. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement pointing out that Indian professionals are highly educated, skilled contributors who form an indispensable backbone of the US economy and its innovation ecosystem.

The MEA noted that resorting to language linked to painful colonial histories was deeply unwarranted, emphasizing that talent mobility creates mutually beneficial economic value for both nations.

The row coincided with recent US policy decisions, including the temporary suspension of several major technology corporations—such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, and Microsoft—from the Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM).

Despite the policy friction, Indian professionals continue to be recognized worldwide for their pivotal leadership in global technology, finance, and enterprise, reflecting India's growing stature as an indispensable provider of global talent. Vance concluded by acknowledging that the US immigration framework must strike a balance that maintains respect for foreign workers who make vital contributions to the nation.