Indian visa holders are on edge as Trump signals a wider, immigration sweep. With holidays around the corner and one of the busiest travel times approaching, the advice from immigration attorneys is ominous: think twice before leaving the U.S.
December opened with a sharp social media salvo from Secretary of State Kristi Noem. Posting on X, Noem wrote: “I just met with the President. I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies. Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom—not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS. WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.”
Just days earlier, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover.”
For many border-policy observers and immigrant-rights advocates, the escalation from “Third World countries” to “every damn country” was hard to miss and came remarkably fast.
While the list of the countries, that may come under the purview remains yet to be announced, netizens did not shy away from serving the unsaid. One user remarked, “Can we get H-1Bs on that list?” Another comment on the thread read: “India is on that list, right?”
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The anti-H-1B sentiments shared by some online, underlined the broader anti-India sentiment of the moment in Trump’s America.
New York-based Attorney Poonam Gupta of Summit Legal PLLC said, “The current environment is extraordinarily volatile for visa holders. We’re seeing policy shifts happen without warning, and the administration’s announcement of a ‘comprehensive re-review’ of approvals dating back to 2021 creates immediate uncertainty for thousands of people who entered legally and have been living and working in the U.S. in valid status.”
The ongoing turmoil around U.S. immigration policy, intensified by the shock of September’s sudden and unprecedented $100,000 H-1B fee proposal has put Indian visa holders and immigration attorneys on high alert. In today’s blink-and-there’s-a-new-bill atmosphere, the sense of uncertainty has only deepened.
Fearing a possible blanket ban, many attorneys are advising visa holders to consider postponing their plans to travel outside of the United States.
Immigration partner at A.Y. Strauss LLC, Nandini Nair, advises extreme caution to those living and working in the United States even on valid visas and lawful status. She says, “If you are abroad, it is highly recommended you return back and if you are thinking of traveling — think twice, probably three times, before you step out.”
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On many Indian expat forums, there are discussions on if visa holders should cancel their holiday travels and stay put. An Indian national, on condition of anonymity shared with The American Bazaar that they have advised their son, currently on a H-1B visa to cancel their tickets to India.
“The time does not seem right, we do not want our son to spend the holidays fretting over what new rule may prevent him from rejoining his work. We were looking forward to his visit as he hasn’t been in India in a few years but looks like America has gone on anti-Indian workers overdrive right now,” shared an aghast parent.
As the U.S. widens its travel-ban sweep, potentially adding 30 more countries to the visa-restricted list, Indian expat forums are rife with discussions about whether India could be included. While no official list has been released, the uncertainty is keeping everyone — from applicants to corporations — on edge.
In this climate of uncertainty, Gupta offers a warning that is as sobering as it is stark: “My advice to clients right now is clear: if you’re on a visa and you leave the country, there’s a real risk you won’t be able to return—even if your visa is valid and you’ve done everything right. Until we know the full scope of these expanded restrictions, the safest course is to stay put.”