Indians, Stephen Miller Is No Fan Of The H-1B

Photo: Reuters/Andrew Kelly

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Stephen Miller’s recent appointment as White House deputy chief of staff for policy signals immigration policies, which will affect high-skilled workers on H-1B visas, something that Indians prize and want.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data shows Indians represent the majority of H-1B visa. In 2023 , 279,000 of the 386,000 H-1B visas were awarded to Indian nationals. Chinese were way behind with just over 11% of the total thanks in part to the Biden administration’s hostility to the nation.

Miller’s hostility toward H-1B visas is well-documented, dating back to his work under Senator Jeff Sessions. Together, they shaped the 2015 Cruz-Sessions bill, which outlined aggressive restrictions on H-1B visas and marked the blueprint for Trump’s later immigration strategy.

This bill sought to prevent most H-1B visa holders from working in the U.S. unless they first spent 10 years abroad and aimed to abolish Optional Practical Training for international students. Miller argued that these high-skilled visas displaced American workers, often publicly challenging tech companies and other industries reliant on foreign talent.

Known for his hardline views, Miller is expected to lead efforts aligned with Trump’s stringent immigration agenda, which includes plans for mass deportations, enhanced border security, and expanding immigration detention. Though he doesn’t formally head any government branch, his role places him as Trump’s direct emissary, with significant influence over agency leaders and policy implementation across various departments, that deal directly or indirectly with immigration issues including Homeland Security, Labor, and Justice.

Beyond high-skilled visas, Miller has also focused on broader immigration enforcement, supporting policies that intensified deportations and endorsed family separation practices as a deterrent.