Shobhit Mathur, co‑founder of Rishihood University and former Amazon H‑1B hire, slammed Washington’s October 9 decision to halt PERM approvals for eight major tech firms, saying the curbs threaten the very talent that built AWS.
Mathur, who joined Amazon in 2005, recalls the company’s loss‑making years and credits the early Indian workforce for laying the technical foundation that later fueled its cloud services boom.
The Treasury’s order, announced on October 9, pauses permanent‑labor‑certification petitions for firms such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft, but does not affect current H‑1B holders or their families.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs, on the same day, denounced the move and countered Vice‑President Jake R. Vance’s “indentured servant” remark, emphasizing the economic benefits of skilled Indian professionals.
Mathur warned that the restriction could deepen anti‑immigrant sentiment amid U.S. midterm elections, jeopardizing careers for thousands of Indian Americans who rely on green‑card pathways.
He urged New Delhi to invest in higher‑education and tech ecosystems to retain talent, while the U.S. is expected to face congressional scrutiny on the policy before the midterm vote.