The trade tensions between India and the United States have been under focus with H-1B visa program becoming the ongoing flashpoint on social media. Posts on social media are pouring in from both sides, with users accusing the program of undercutting local workers, while certain voices defend their role in driving U.S. industries forward. The online fight reflects the wider unease stirred by the ongoing tariff war, turning immigration into an even sharper battlefield.
On X, user @MindRational lashed out at the program, writing:
“#h1b never leave even if they are not eligible to be on #h1b . End #h1b visa . Indians cheat and lie and rob Americans of their livelihood!! @USTechWorkers @VBierschwale @amandalouise416 @USDOL @USCIS.”
Another critic, @DrRepatriator, echoed similar frustrations:
“As long as you are Indian, you have access to their network of jobs. #H1B. If you are an American and qualified, you have NO chance! Enough is enough. @USCIS @ICEgov.”
Some posts have gone further, citing books and articles to argue the system is built on false promises. One user urged followers to read “Sold Out,” saying, “Here are some reality checks on the constant barrage of lies we are told about #H1B. From the fantastic book about H1B: ‘Sold Out.’ If you’re looking for something to read this weekend, it’s been a great read. Happy Friday.”
The back-and-forth often turns personal. After one user insisted, “we literally run your country’s economy. You need us,” @DrRepatriator snapped back, “How about fuck off. White Americans can run the #tech industry just as they did before you invaded. Also dgaf about your disgusting food. Time to go back.”
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It isn’t just anonymous accounts joining the fray. Back in May, the Treasurer of CCYRTX posted, “all H-1B visas should expire, the program should be ended, and visa holders should be sent back to their home countries. It has nothing to do with keeping America competitive. Our major national competitors don’t bring in large numbers of foreign workers.” Even musician Sean Carpenter voiced frustration: “sitting in the DC airport, listening to three gate agents speaking Hindi behind me. Tell me why we need Indians to work the gates at airports again? H1B is a complete fraud.”
The anger has snowballed. One user in New Jersey wrote, “I say we end all U.S. Military Cooperation with India, rescind all U.S. visas to India whether #H1B, visitor visas, business visas, student visas.” Another piled on: “Let’s stop the #H1B system for Indians coming to the #USA. No visitors visa. No student visas.”
The backlash is growing at a time when U.S. tech companies depend heavily on H-1B workers, and layoffs at home have sharpened resentment. Many argue the visas give firms an excuse to rely on cheaper labor instead of hiring American talent. On the other side, Indian professionals point to delays, rejections, and tighter rules making it harder for them to work abroad, seeing the program’s scrutiny as yet another barrier.
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The political undertone is hard to ignore. Under President Donald Trump, the “America First” message and repeated threats to curb or eliminate the H-1B program gave the criticism new momentum. Members of his administration openly labeled it a “scam,” saying it was being abused to sideline U.S. workers. That rhetoric continues to echo online, keeping the H-1B visa at the heart of America’s battles over jobs, immigration, and fairness in an uncertain economy.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has escalated its criticism of the H-1B visa program with sharp rhetoric and policy declarations. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick labeled the system a “scam,” while he went on to propose sweeping reforms including scrapping the traditional lottery and replacing it with a merit- or wage-based allocation system, selecting only top earners for approval. Meanwhile, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon has been equally vocal, calling the program, a total and complete scam to destroy the American worker.
This tough talk from the Trump camp has only added fuel to the fire online. What started as user frustration has now gained political backing, with officials openly calling the H-1B program a “scam.” Their stance has sharpened the anger playing out on social media, where the visa is no longer being seen as a driver of innovation but as a system that needs fixing. The result is a wave of resentment that’s grown louder, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing tariff fight between India and the U.S.