Pawan Khera Slams Modi Over US Visa Curbs and PERM Suspensions

The criticism follows a move by the US Department of Labor to halt new applications from several global technology giants, including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini, alongside US firms like Microsoft and Adobe. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling stated the suspensions stem from multiple active federal investigations, citing that these companies have requested nearly 3 million foreign workers since 2009. Sonderling claimed these firms received over 230,000 H-1B visa approvals and 100,000 permanent labor certifications, which he argued displaced American workers.

Khera seized on the development to attack the central government, claiming that Rahul Gandhi had long urged the Prime Minister to assert India’s interests more aggressively. The Congress leader contrasted the current situation with the Prime Minister's public rhetoric, suggesting that the administration is failing to protect the interests of Indian workers facing restrictive visa fees and administrative hurdles.

Industry body Nasscom pushed back against the narrative, emphasizing that immigration and skilled talent mobility are separate concerns. Nasscom noted that Indian technology firms have steadily reduced their reliance on H-1B visas by prioritizing local hiring and building domestic workforces in the United States. Microsoft similarly downplayed the impact, stating that its remaining H-1B filings involve individuals already legally present in the US, representing only one percent of its American workforce. The US government maintains that these measures are necessary to protect local labor markets and ensure the integrity of the broader immigration system.