Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has accused the Trump administration of fueling a broader climate of anti-Asian and anti-Indian hate while warning that restrictions on legal immigration could weaken America’s ability to attract global talent.
Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat and co-chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus’ Immigration Task Force, made the remarks in the latest episode of CAPAC Chair Grace Meng’s “Spill the Tea with Chair Meng” video series.
During the episode, Krishnamoorthi discussed the impact of anti-immigrant rhetoric, the treatment of Asian American communities and the potential consequences of the Trump administration’s immigration policies for the US economy.
“Donald Trump, as soon as he came into office, really played on people’s latent fears of the ‘other,’ whoever they were,” Krishnamoorthi said.
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He argued that such rhetoric has contributed to what he described as the normalization of hate toward Asian communities in the United States.
“And I think that that has now metastasized over ten years into almost a normalization of hate, whether it’s toward Chinese Americans during COVID and since then, or whether it’s toward Indian Americans,” he said.
His comments come as Indian Americans and other immigrant communities continue to face increased scrutiny amid a broader debate over legal immigration and the Trump administration’s efforts to tighten immigration policies.
Krishnamoorthi also criticized the administration’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, arguing that the policy could make the US less attractive to highly skilled workers from around the world.
“Our competitiveness depends on attracting the very best talent on earth. Whether it’s people from India or China or Sweden, it doesn’t matter,” Krishnamoorthi said.
He specifically pointed to the role of H-1B workers in the technology sector and warned that the higher cost could discourage skilled professionals from choosing the United States.
“When you put this … $100,000 tax on this group of people who, by the way, fill some of the most exquisite technological roles in our economy … you’re basically pushing these people away in the first instance and then probably getting people here to rethink whether they should stay,” he said.
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The H-1B program has long been used by U.S. technology companies and other employers to recruit highly skilled foreign workers, including professionals from India. The program has also become a major point of debate in discussions surrounding immigration, American jobs and the country’s ability to compete globally.
Krishnamoorthi said the United States’ economic strength is closely tied to its ability to remain a destination for talented people from across the world.
His appearance on the CAPAC series comes amid heightened political debate over immigration and the treatment of immigrant communities in the U.S. While criticizing the administration’s approach, Krishnamoorthi also expressed optimism about America’s future.
CAPAC said the episode focused on the rise of anti-Asian and anti-Indian hate, the implications of attacks on legal immigration for America’s global competitiveness and Krishnamoorthi’s reasons for remaining hopeful about the country’s future.