Free Republic

US Vice President JD Vance has defended the Trump administration’s decision to overhaul the H-1B visa programme, saying it is being misused to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour. -snip- “If you look at the H-1B visa, what it’s supposed to be is that you have a super genius who’s studying at an American university and who’s working at a great company. You want that super genius to stay in the United States of America and not go somewhere else. What it’s actually used to do is hire an accountant at a 50 per cent discount for an American...

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced an interim rule to stop the automatic extension of Employment Authorisation Documents (EAD) of migrant workers, a move that is likely to impact thousands of foreign employees, including Indians who make up a large portion of the expat workforce. In a statement on Wednesday, the Department said "Aliens who file to renew their EAD on or after Oct. 30, 2025 (Thursday), will no longer receive an automatic extension of their EAD." This means, EADs automatically extended before October 30 won't be affected. With the new rule, there will be more "vetting and...

In a significant crackdown on human trafficking, the United States has deported 54 Indian nationals who entered the country through illegal routes. The group landed in New Delhi on Sunday evening aboard flight OAE-4767 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. All of them belong to various districts in Haryana. The deportation has prompted Indian authorities to intensify their investigation into the notorious human smuggling network known as the “Donkey Route.” -snip- According to statements from some deported individuals, they were forced to pass through over ten countries, including Guyana, Brazil, Peru, Panama, and Mexico, before being detained at the U.S....

"My feet are swollen. I was shackled for 25 hours (on the flight)," said 45-year-old Harjinder Singh, who was part of the latest batch of Indians deported by the US. Expressing his ordeal, Singh also said he spent Rs 35 lakh to migrate to the US for a better life but his dreams of doing something good for the family are dashed now. The latest batch of illegal migrants included around 50 people from Haryana's Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Jind and Panipat districts, officials said. A plane carrying them landed at the Delhi airport late on Saturday night. The...

The dream of a better life in the US has ended for Harjinder Singh of Jagoli village in Ambala, who was deported on Sunday after being caught for illegal stay. Harjinder, who went to the US in 2021, said he had dreamt of working hard and earning well for his family’s future. But his hopes were crushed when US authorities deported him under the Trump administration’s policy of removing illegal immigrants. “They should have deported us with dignity instead of sending us in chains. We remained in chains for nearly 25 hours. There is swelling in my legs and other...

US entrepreneur and former Dogecoin adviser James Fishback has called for a complete halt on hiring skilled workers from India and other countries, saying American companies should focus on local talent instead. Fishback, who leads the investment firm Azoria and has previously worked with Elon Musk, said in a post on X that major technology companies are giving jobs to people from India and China while qualified Americans struggle to find opportunities. US companies “not looking for Americans” “Here’s the ugly truth: they’re not even looking for Americans. They refuse to interview them. They hide job postings in obscure newspapers...

Like many Americans, James Fishback, the CEO of investment firm Azoria, appears to be highly critical of the H-1B visa because he feels that foreign workers are stealing American jobs. -snip- Fishback, the initial developer of the “DOGE checks” tool, has been publicly denouncing the H-1B program in interviews ever since US President Donald Trump slapped $100k fees on H-1B visas. He has lambasted businesses for employing Indians, especially when they claim they “can't find Americans for these jobs” and are forced to use H-1B visas. Targeting H1-B Visa, Fishback took to X and wrote: “The H-1B scam is hurting...

Hindu American Foundation has taken to social media to share online posts backing anti-Hindu narrative under the guise of H1-B visa criticism. The recent debate has begun after Diwali celebration, which many in the US opposed calling it a result of immigration base that the country maintains. Sharing a few such posts, the Foundation said that so-called H-1B criticism is turning into “online Hinduphobia”. “H1-B criticism morphed into online Hinduphobia and anti-Indian racism. Then city council members and political candidates began calling for mass deportations,” it said. The Foundation added that masked men are now “loitering on sidewalks calling Hindu...

The Donald Trump administration said on Thursday it will fight all lawsuits filed against H-1B visa policy, saying that the move is intended to protect American workers and restore integrity to the system. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the administration stands firm on its newly implemented measures, including the contentious $100,000 fee imposed on new H-1B visa applications. The announcement comes after the US Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the fee hike. "The administration will fight these lawsuits in court. The president’s main priority has always been to put American workers first...

Seven US lawmakers, including both Democrats and Republicans, have written to President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, urging them to withdraw the $100,000 fee on H-1B visas. They warned that the recent changes could harm the country’s innovation-driven economy and weaken its global competitiveness. In a joint statement, they said that while the H-1B visa system needs reform to better align with American values and workforce needs, the new rules — particularly the $100,000 annual fee — will make it difficult for many employers to hire and retain skilled foreign workers. The letter was signed by Suhas Subramanyam,...

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has urged President Donald Trump to reconsider a newly imposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, warning that the policy could harm American innovation and competitiveness. In a letter sent to the White House and the Department of Commerce on October 21, seven members of Congress, including both Democrats and Republicans, expressed concern that the fee would disproportionately affect early-stage employers and small companies, particularly those that have not yet become profitable. -snip- The letter sent to the President was signed by Representatives Sam Liccardo of California, Jay Obernolte of California, Maria Elvira...

Amid US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, the Indian government is currently working on a new scheme focused on bringing back Indian-origin “star faculty” and researchers currently based abroad, according to The Indian Express. The move will not only bring the top scholars back to India, but also offer them positions in top research institutions and thus promote long-term collaboration to improve the country’s science and technology ecosystem.

In the video, Harold Weinbrecht, the mayor of Cary, and TJ Cully, the mayor of Morrisville, are seen grooving to the iconic song 'Chunri-Chunri' alongside other performers at an event. Diwali 2025 In America: Diwali, a festival that marks the victory of good over evil and is one of the major festivals in India, illuminates the US cities as the Indian community abroad celebrates the occasion. The festive spirit can also be seen in many countries around the world, with North Carolina, USA, being a glittering example. Two mayors in North Carolina danced their hearts out to the tunes of...

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has signaled that the H-1B visa system will face key reforms before the $100,000 fee applies in 2026. He called the lottery “bizarre,” opposed low-cost hiring, and said visas must go to the most highly-skilled workers. -snip- Lutnick said the H-1B visa lottery system is flawed and needs reform. Referring to conversations with the heads of two leading global tech companies, he said they found the concept of allocating visas for skilled workers through a lottery “bizarre.” He argued that the US must ensure visas go only to the most highly skilled professionals. -snip- The...

A growing push in the US to curtail OPT and tax or restrict foreign student work is rattling Indian students. Policy shifts, surprise site visits and H-1B fee changes are shrinking the post-study path in the US. When students finish degrees in the US, they often rely on Optional Practical Training (OPT) to transition from F1 student visas to H1-B work visas and build a career in the US. That safety net is now increasingly under threat. Senator Tom Cotton’s OPT Fair Tax Act was already spelling trouble. Now, Senator Chuck Grassley and others are urging DHS (Department of Homeland...

The 'American Dream' is often described as the belief that anyone can succeed in the United States through perseverance and hard work. For Ananya Joshi, an Indian woman, that promise fell short. She bid a teary-eyed farewell to the country after failing to secure stable employment. In a conversation with NDTV, Joshi explained that she was on an F-1 visa when she was laid off. She had joined a company during her Optional Practical Training (OPT) period, but they later informed her that they would not sponsor her visa. "At that time I did not panic because I knew I...

US Senator Charles Grassley and Richard J. Durbin has sent a letter to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for hiring thousands of H-1B visa workers in the country while conducting ‘massive layoffs’ globally. The letter, dated September 24, 2025 is addressed to TCS CEO Krithi Krithivasan raises concerns about “troubling employment trends” in the tech industry. It quotes a Wall Street Journal report pointing at the tech sector’s unemployment rate, which is “well above” the overall jobless rate. The letter asks the Indian IT firm that while it has announced to lay off 12,000 employees worldwide, “you have been filing H-1B...

-snip- The suit cites the example of “Plaintiff Phoenix Doe,” to land its point. Doe is described as an Indian citizen residing in Northern California. She is a postdoctoral researcher whose cap-exempt H-1B petition has been halted due to the $100,000 fee. -snip- “As a result of the Proclamation, her university has indefinitely paused moving forward with the processing of her application.” “She is suffering debilitating stress and anxiety due to the uncertainty of her position, which exacerbates the PTSD from which she suffers. Without relief, Plaintiff Phoenix will be forced to leave her postdoctoral position the United States within...

A Florida city councilman is facing growing bipartisan calls for his removal after posting inflammatory comments about Indian Americans on social media and then doubling down on his remarks, triggering outrage from fellow Republicans, state legislators, and community members. Palm Bay City Councilman Chandler Langevin wrote on X.com about people who are from India, accusing those living in the country of exploiting the United States, according to Click Orlando. His posts, which called for the deportation of all Indians and a halt to migration from India, have been widely condemned as racist. Langevin stated last week on X: “There’s not...

US President Donald Trump’s decision to cap international undergraduate students to 15 per cent of a college, with no more than 5 per cent from any single country, has evoked sharp criticism from Telugu students, who form a considerable chuck from India seeking admission in American colleges. Vishvanath Reddy, a student from Hyderabad who is pursuing his masters’ in the US, said “This is deeply unfair to international students. Immigrant students, especially from India, are the lifeblood of universities in the US. Trump cannot just put a five per cent cap on students belonging to a particular nationality. This will...