Strong anti-India sentiment towards professionals and businesses in the US has followed recent changes to the skilled-worker visa regime. Reports have been emerging of targeted abuse at Indian professionals in the US.
Experts cited by a reputed media house linked the trend to policy revisions introduced by the Donald Trump administration in September that reshaped the H-1B programme.
The revised system raised the application fee to $100,000. It also introduced a wage-based selection model. Higher-paid roles are now prioritised. The administration said the changes were aimed at protecting American workers.
From February, the rules are set to tighten further, according to a report by an acclaimed media house.
Authorities will favour the highest-paid candidates. These are classified as Level-IV H-1B applicants. The shift is expected to make qualification harder for many skilled migrants.
As the rules changed, anger spilled online. Big companies like FedEx, Walmart and Verizon were targeted. Users accused them of illegally selling jobs to Indian workers. The claims spread fast and without proof.
Raqib Naik of the Center for the Study of Organised Hate was quoted as saying that some attacks appeared organised. He said Indian American entrepreneurs who received loans from the Small Business Administration were singled out. He warned that discrimination had intensified. Indians were increasingly being depicted as job stealers and visa scammers, he said.
Data showed the mood getting worse. Stop AAPI Hate and Moonshot tracked a 12 per cent rise in violent threats against South Asian communities in November. Online slurs aimed at South Asians jumped by 69 per cent in the same month. The spike came as more Indian professionals moved to the US.
US firms have recruited software developers, engineers, doctors and researchers from India. The hiring has focused on roles where domestic talent is scarce. The trend has drawn attention amid the visa overhaul.
Tensions rose before Christmas after footage of a damaged FedEx truck went viral. The clip triggered abuse aimed at FedEx chief executive Raj Subramaniam, who is of Indian origin. Some posts called for an end to what they described as an Indian takeover of American companies. Right-wing commentators, including Gab founder Andrew Torba, accused Subramaniam of replacing White American staff with Indian workers.
FedEx dismissed the claims.
The company insisted that recruitment was merit driven, a culture prevalent for 50 years now.
Furthermore, it said that its workforce reflected the diversity of more than 220 countries.
Over the past year, dozens of firms have cut back or paused diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.
Conservative critics said such initiatives disadvantaged white Americans. Observers said the rollbacks, tighter immigration rules and political rhetoric on jobs had helped create an environment where Indian professionals and businesses were increasingly singled out.
Also Read: US Overhauls H-1B Visa System To Favour Higher-Paid, Skilled Workers https://www.vibesofindia.com/us-overhauls-h-1b-visa-system-to-favour-higher-paid-skilled-workers/
