The article first appeared in Aljazeera on Feb 1, 2025.
The H-1B visa program has long been a critical pathway for skilled Indian professionals seeking opportunities in the United States. However, recent policy shifts under the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have caused growing disillusionment among these workers. Initially, the promise of the H-1B visa was seen as an entry point to the American dream, allowing Indian talent to thrive in Silicon Valley. Yet, the reality has often been far more complex, exposing workers to job insecurity, workplace exploitation, and cultural alienation.
Under Donald Trump’s renewed MAGA agenda in his second term, the administration has introduced stricter immigration policies, making the H-1B visa process more challenging. This has sparked significant frustration within the Indian tech community, which once viewed the Republican leadership as a supporter of business-friendly policies. While figures like Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella symbolize the heights Indian professionals can achieve, they also mask the struggles of thousands of workers tethered to precarious employment contracts. Many Indian tech workers remain dependent on their employers for visa sponsorship, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
Moreover, the perception of Indian professionals as the “model minority” has played a dual role. On the one hand, high salaries and academic excellence have provided visibility and privilege. On the other, the reluctance to engage with systemic racial inequities has alienated Indian professionals from broader social justice movements. The H-1B visa system, while facilitating economic success, has also led to a reinforcement of workplace disparities. Many Indian professionals have unwittingly participated in structures that prioritize their inclusion while sidelining other marginalized communities.
Caste discrimination within the tech industry is another pressing issue. Although largely unspoken, reports have emerged about biases among Indian professionals in hiring and workplace dynamics. This has fueled tensions not just within the Indian diaspora but also within Silicon Valley’s diverse workforce. With the MAGA movement pushing for further restrictions on employment-based immigration, the cracks in this once-stable relationship have widened.
As the United States reassesses its immigration policies, Indian tech professionals face a difficult choice. They must navigate an increasingly restrictive H-1B visa system while addressing their own role in reinforcing social hierarchies. The MAGA agenda, once perceived as business-friendly, now threatens to undermine the very workforce that helped fuel America’s technological dominance.
Read more at Aljazeera
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