In a powerful and unambiguous statement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday warned that nations creating artificial barriers against the mobility of skilled professionals across borders will ultimately be the biggest losers. His remarks came at a mobility conclave, against the backdrop of the Trump administration imposing heavy fees on H-1B visas and tightening immigration laws to prevent foreign professionals—especially Indians—from entering the United States.
“Block talent, and you block your own progress”
Speaking during an interactive session, Jaishankar said:
“If they create excessive restrictions on the flow of talent, they will, in the long run, only damage themselves. As the world steps into an era of advanced manufacturing, the demand for talent is only going to grow.”
His message was blunt: in the global race for innovation and technological leadership, the real currency is human talent—and shutting the doors on it is an act of self-sabotage.
India’s argument: Cross-border talent benefits both sides
Jaishankar stressed that India must continue to convince the world that cross-border talent mobility is mutually beneficial.
He noted:
“Entrepreneurs and technology leaders strongly advocate mobility. But political groups, with fixed constituencies to satisfy, often oppose it. Eventually, they too will reach a compromise.”
Job losses are not caused by immigrants—real reasons lie elsewhere
In a pointed rebuttal to the popular political narrative in the West, Jaishankar said job pressures in developed countries are not the result of foreign workers.
He explained:
“The real reason is that these countries allowed their manufacturing to move out. If they think restricting mobility will save jobs, they are mistaken. If people don’t travel, the jobs themselves will travel abroad.”
This was a direct and data-backed counter to the growing anti-immigration rhetoric.
H-1B visas: India’s stake is massive
Around 71% of all approved H-1B visas in recent years have gone to Indians. This alone highlights how critical Indian talent is to the American tech ecosystem.
The new U.S. fees and tougher rules, therefore, are not mere “policy adjustments”—they strike at the heart of global innovation networks.
Legal mobility = global economic strength
Jaishankar underscored the enormous economic impact of mobility, pointing out that:
“India received 135 billion USD in remittances last year—almost twice the value of our exports to the United States.”
This figure alone proves how deeply intertwined global labour mobility is with India’s economic stability and growth.
Clear warning against illegal migration
While advocating for smoother legal channels, Jaishankar issued a strong caution against illegal migration:
“Human trafficking and illegal mobility create space for people with separatist, criminal or political agendas. The consequences can be extremely damaging.”
A broader global message
Jaishankar’s remarks went far beyond a reaction to U.S. immigration policy. They were a strategic message to the world:
- Talent cannot be stopped at borders.
- Countries that restrict skilled mobility will fall behind.
- Legal migration is becoming the backbone of the global economy.
And his most significant insight:
“If travel becomes difficult, work will not stop. If people do not move, the jobs will move.”