By Dan Gooding and Kaamya Krishnan

The increased scrutiny against the South Asian population seeking employment in America, specifically those of Indian nationality applying for the H-1B visa program, has led to increased political hostility and racism against Indian people in the United States, experts told Newsweek.

The uptick in discrimination and bigotry can be tracked across social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X, often attached to the H-1B work-based visa.

H-1B visas allow for U.S. companies to employ foreign nationals who are often skilled in specific industries, such as tech. The majority of applicants for the H-1B come from India, with 71 percent of H-1B visa holders coming from India alone in 2024, according to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

During the 2024 election season, with two prominent women of South Asian background under the national spotlight, now-second lady Usha Vance and the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, faced public speculation regarding their identities.

Vance, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, has faced online xenophobia while her husband has faced scrutiny for marrying her, the criticism rooted in white supremacist values.

“They [MAGA supporters] are nativist. That is a key part of their platform and agenda, and right now when we look at the context in which this is all occurring, it is very much anti-immigrant,” Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of the AAPI Equity Alliance and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, told Newsweek.

“The American economy has, really since its founding, benefited from the labor of immigrants particular to the AAPI community.”

To read the entire article: https://www.newsweek.com/indian-immigrants-us-visas-social-media-hate-racism-2121568

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