New Delhi: Congress leader Pawan Khera has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Trump administration’s move to suspend several major technology companies from filing new applications under the US Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme, alleging that Modi is allowing US President Donald Trump to bully him instead of taking a firm stand.
In a post on X on Thursday, Khera said higher H-1B visa fees had already made American companies reconsider hiring Indian professionals, while the suspension of PERM applications had made it more difficult for Indian technology companies operating in the United States to sponsor employees for permanent residency.
The exorbitant H-1B fees have already made American companies think twice about hiring Indian professionals.
Now, by suspending the PERM programme for major Indian IT companies, the Trump administration has made it harder for Indian companies operating in the US to sponsor Indian professionals for permanent residency.
Mr @RahulGandhi has repeatedly advised the Prime Minister to stand his ground when dealing with America and act as if he really has a 56-inch chest.
But Modi “Ji” would rather get bullied by his fraand, Dolaand Trump, than listen to Rahul Gandhi.
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 ಪವನ್ ಖೇರಾ (@Pawankhera) October 8, 2026
“The exorbitant H-1B fees have already made American companies think twice about hiring Indian professionals. Now, by suspending the PERM programme for major Indian IT companies, the Trump administration has made it harder for Indian companies operating in the US to sponsor Indian professionals for permanent residency,” Khera said.
He also claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly urged the Prime Minister to adopt a tougher position in his dealings with Washington.
Taking a swipe at Modi, Khera said the Prime Minister would rather be bullied by Trump than listen to Rahul Gandhi.
NASSCOM Says Indian IT Firms Have Reduced H-1B Dependence
The development comes as the US government’s action against major technology companies raises concerns about the impact on Indian IT firms and skilled professionals seeking permanent residency.
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) said immigration and skilled talent mobility were separate issues and should not be viewed through the same lens.
In its statement, the industry body said the US Department of Labour’s decision affected a specific immigration pathway. It added that Indian technology companies had significantly reduced their dependence on H-1B visas over the years while expanding local hiring and building a substantial workforce in the United States.
Nasscom said Indian technology companies work with a majority of Fortune 500 companies in the US, helping them innovate and grow while generating local employment. It also noted that the number of employees moving from H-1B visas to permanent residency through the PERM process was relatively limited.
The industry body further said Indian technology companies operate in more than 80 countries and have consistently worked to comply with local laws and regulatory requirements. It expressed confidence that the companies would continue to follow applicable US regulations.
Microsoft Responds to US Labour Department Action
Microsoft also responded after being included among the companies suspended from the programme, stating that it believes in the strength and talent of the American workforce.
The company said its remaining H-1B filings for new employees involved people who were already legally present in the United States and had chosen to join Microsoft. It added that these employees accounted for only around one per cent of its US workforce.
US Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling had announced the suspension of several major IT outsourcing companies from the Permanent Labour Certification programme. The companies named included Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini, along with US technology companies Microsoft and Adobe.
The Labour Department attributed the action to multiple active federal investigations involving the companies.
Sonderling said the department would neither accept new applications nor process pending permanent labour certification applications involving the affected companies.
According to the Labour Secretary, the companies had collectively sought nearly three million foreign workers since 2009 and received more than 230,000 H-1B visa approvals and over 100,000 permanent labour certifications.
He argued that the figures raised concerns about the impact on American workers.
US Immigration Policy Faces Further Scrutiny
The action follows a proposal by the US Department of Homeland Security to introduce new fees for F-1 non-immigrant students seeking to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT).
The proposed measures were presented as part of efforts to protect American workers and strengthen the integrity of the US immigration system.
The latest developments have placed the spotlight on the implications of US immigration policy for Indian technology companies, their employees and skilled professionals seeking opportunities in the country.
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