India hits back at US VP's H-1B visa criticism as 'deeply offensive'

India's government has lodged a formal objection to comments made by US Vice President JD Vance concerning Indian professionals working in the United States on H-1B visas, characterizing the statements as "deeply offensive" and factually inaccurate.

The diplomatic pushback comes as the Trump administration continues to scrutinize visa programs that facilitate skilled worker recruitment from abroad. Vance's remarks, made in the context of broader policy decisions regarding immigration, drew particular ire from New Delhi for their portrayal of Indian technology professionals.

Indian officials emphasized that the United States has historically been shaped and strengthened by immigrants and that characterizing Indian professionals in derogatory terms undermines this foundational principle. The government noted that Indian nationals have made significant contributions to American innovation, business, and society across multiple sectors.

The H-1B visa program, which allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, has long been a point of contention in American immigration policy. Indian nationals constitute a substantial portion of H-1B visa holders, particularly in technology and engineering fields.

The row highlights ongoing tensions between New Delhi and Washington over immigration policy, even as the two nations maintain close strategic and economic ties.