The H-1B visa has always been a subject of political ruckus in the power corridors of the US.
However, the most recent debate touched off last month, after right-wing influencer Laura Loomer slammed Trump’s decision to appoint Chennai-born Sriram Krishnan as AI adviser to the US government.
Billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy further sparked divisive opinions on the visa program that benefits Indian techies more than workers of any other nationality.
While Loomer declared Trump’s policies and stance to be “Not America First Policy,” Musk and Trump himself came down heavily to defend the visa program.
Last Saturday, the President-elect said, “he fully backs the H1B program,” whereas Musk tweeted that he, “will go to war to defend the visa program.”
Every year, thousands of techies from India move to the US on H1B visas. For FY 2023, the Office of Homeland Security Statistics reports that 7,55,020 people were admitted to the United States in H-1B status. As per USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) more than 7 in 10 recipients of H1-B visas are from India.
Ideally a program that allows US employers to hire skilled foreign professionals for specialised roles should be a win-win for both, the migrants and those hiring.
However, a series of controversial events have further shone a spotlight on the program that has brought to the fore the latent racism among right-wing Americans, the misinformation and vested agendas already drilled deep Inside the psyche of the masses.
Trump himself has had an ever-changing stance on the visa program; considering his core fan base is drawn to his tough immigration policies, pledges of mass deportation and speeches on America First. As a candidate in 2016, Trump called the H1B visa program “very bad and unfair.” This was followed by an executive order of “But American and Hire American,” issued by his administration a year later.
In 2020, his administration required employers to pay higher wages to the visa holders; a move aimed at discouraging US companies from hiring cheap labour from abroad.
Amidst all of the prime-time debates and national conversation steered towards the H1B program, the influx of migrant workers has intensified racist comments and hate against Indians, especially by right-wing Americans.
Recently, Stew Peters on his show called Indians as, “cockroaches and third world parasites.”
Peters posted his tirade on X, which went viral in no time attracting racist counter-attacks. “This is the culture we’re importing through qualified H-1B visa recipients.”
Comedian Leonarda Jonie who appears alongside in the video laughs at the comments and does little to counter or correct his racist attacks.
He has not been the only one. Loomer also launched into a long tirade on X coming down heavily on Musk after he supported the visa program.
“If India is such a highly skilled society, why does it look like this? Just admit you want cheap labour. I don’t care about being called racist.”
Earlier in the year 2024, concerns were also being raised about the safety of Indian students on American campuses, with nine students being brutally attacked in the first three months of 2024 itself with a few of them being the outbreaks of racism.
The social media is replete with several, staggered and recurrent incidents of racism on metros and at other public places.
Racism even towards American born Indians
At the receiving end have been not just the visa holders but even American-born Indian-origin individuals, if they happen to express support for the program.
Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar had to contend with threats and jibes of being bought a one-way ticket to Mumbai on social media platform X after expressing support for H-1B visa.
“Wow, you’re a foreigner shilling for more of your compatriots to flood into my country and compete against my people,” said a troller, who followed up the comment with a string of colourful abuses.
In a post that echoed the sentiments of US-born Indian origin Americans, Neera Tanden, Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council said, “They don’t see you as one of them.”
The statement highlighted the concerns, hidden biases and sometimes open hostility faced by several Indians. In response to Tanden’s comment, Musk called for certain “contemptible fools” in the GOP to be removed.
Taking stock of the hateful comments and a few staggered incidents of racism, the Indian government is actively monitoring the verbal violence and other challenges faced by H-1B visa holders in the US.
While the incidents may be curbed with some assistance from strict rules and law enforcement agencies, weeding out the deep-rooted hatred is going to take measures far more inclusive than that.
Follow us
