MAGA Figures Stoke Anger Against Indians, H-1B Visas

Photo: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Prominent figures in the conservative movement are sharpening their attacks on skilled immigration, particularly targeting Indian professionals on H-1B visas, as frustrations mount over the U.S. economy and job market.

In August, President Donald Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner, hours after the release of a weak July jobs accusing BLS of producing “rigged” numbers for political reasons, without providing any evidence. Critics and economists have said that unemployment numbers are higher than Trump says, and much of it is caused by his hard-nosed tariff strategies.

The heated exchanges highlight how immigration — particularly through the H-1B visa program, under which Indian nationals account for the largest share — has become a flashpoint as Trump’s MAGA supporters tie economic struggles to the presence of foreign workers.

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, posted on X that the United States should not expand visa access for Indian workers. “America does not need more visas for people from India. Perhaps no form of legal immigration has so displaced American workers as those from India. Enough already. We’re full. Let’s finally put our own people first,” Kirk wrote in response to a post from Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who argued that any future U.S.-India trade deal would likely hinge on visa policy.

The comments follow repeated rhetoric from MAGA-aligned activists, including right-wing influencers, who have tied the presence of Indian professionals in the U.S. to economic decline and job losses. Their posts have struck a chord with some Americans who feel squeezed by inflation, stagnant wages, and layoffs in the tech sector.

Supporters of immigration pushed back forcefully. Entrepreneur and author Karl Mehta responded directly to Kirk, pointing out that there are no “visas for people from India,” only visa categories and country caps. He stressed that Indian professionals have contributed substantially to the U.S. economy, founding leading startups, running Fortune 500 companies, and creating millions of jobs. “Your tweet might misinform people and incite racist and hate crimes. I feel worried for the safety of fellow Americans just because of their brown skin despite significant contributions to the US economy & innovation,” Mehta wrote.

Other users echoed that point, arguing that Indian workers fill critical skill gaps in technology, healthcare, and engineering, enabling U.S. companies to remain globally competitive. One comment noted, “Legal immigration is not a burden it is an investment. Skilled immigrants create jobs, pay taxes, and strengthen the economy rather than weaken it.”

But backlash to Kirk’s post also gained traction, with commenters insisting that foreign workers were replacing Americans. “Crazy idea: how about our leaders stop selling out the middle class for cheap foreign labor and start rebuilding the American Dream for Americans?” one wrote. Another complained about Indian accents in customer service calls, while others accused Indian executives of discriminating against U.S.-born employees.

One user claimed, “Indians actively discriminate against Americans in IT and other STEM fields. Once they are in power, the American workers are systematically replaced by Indians either here or through offshoring.”