“Build here. Scale here. Die here’ – Chairman Pan IIT Alumni India on US PERM, H1-B News from Trump Admin | Today’s News
Mr. IIT Alumni India has now urged IITians to return to India, saying India now offers better opportunities amid uncertainty surrounding US immigration policy, including recent developments related to PERM labor certification and H-1B visas under the Trump administration. Take to X, a body that represents graduates of India’s 23 Institutes of Technology (IITs), has raised concerns over ongoing US visa issues involving the US PERM program.
Mr. IIT Alumni India Responds to US PERM, H1-B Update
The organization, which calls for a fair and transparent immigration policy, has warned against stereotyping Indian talent. He also commented on JD Vance’s reference to Indian professionals as “indentured servants”.
“PanIIT Alumni India notes with concern the recent developments in the United States regarding the PERM program and the treatment of skilled Indian professionals on H-1B visas. We respect the sovereign right of each nation to shape its immigration policy. However, we urge that such policy be implemented fairly, transparently, and without stigmatizing a community of professionals whose contributions are well-documented to the American economy and society.”
“For more than five decades, Indian engineers and technologists – a large number of them IIT graduates – have been among the most productive contributors to American innovation, research and industry. They have created products, filed patents, founded companies and created jobs on American soil. To characterize them collectively as ‘servants’ is neither accurate nor fair,” he added.
Chairman Prabhat Kumar
Prabhat Kumar, IRS, Chairman, PanIIT Alumni India, said the ongoing situation should focus on moving Indian talent abroad.
“For decades we’ve celebrated when our brightest minds left for American shores. It’s time to ask what we’ve lost. A visa has never been a stable foundation for a career, and this week’s events prove it. The IIT contract was a nation before itself. The most interesting problems and the biggest impact – now await our engineers at home. Build here. Scale here. Die here,” he said.
What is happening between India and USA
India had earlier criticized the US decision to curtail a key green card processing program for big technology firms, including Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Microsoft, Adobe, Capgemini and Cognizant.
The Trump administration has suspended the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program for eight IT occupations in an effort to reduce the number of foreign workers in the US and create job opportunities for Americans.
The move is likely to affect Indian techies who rely on employer-sponsored green cards for US permanent residency after entering the country on H-1B visas.
