Indians in US: From model immigrants to targets of MAGA tirade

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 27, 2025 15:23 IST

Donald Trump is America's reset button. With a myriad of executive orders on his first day as the 47th President of the US, he became America's disruptor-in-chief. These orders include new rules on immigration and citizenship amid dozens of others that will have an indelible mark on American society. In the changed scenario, what is also changing is the attitudes of some Americans towards Indians in the US. Traditionally, Indians in the US have been regarded as "model immigrants" and "the great Indian American exceptionalism". This is because of their work-ethic, focus on education, and God-fearing attitude. Indians are essentially problem-solvers more than troublemakers and this made their integration into American society smooth and steady. But now, the Make America Great Again (MAGA) army is out with brickbats for Indian-Americans.

At the centre of the row is that MAGA views Indians on temporary work visas like the H-1B as people snatching jobs from American citizens. There is no proof of that. On the contrary, Indians have gone on to create jobs in the US.

There is an internal rift that was revealed as the white supremacist MAGA clashed with Tesla boss and Trump aide Elon Musk on H-1B visas.

The H-1B issue could also be behind Indian-origin Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's exit from Trump's much-vaunted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Reports in the US media suggest that Ramaswamy's comments on American mediocrity and his support for Indians on H-1B visas led to his DOGE divorce.

There could be a larger message for Indians, the model immigrants. Follow the queue, or you could be well on your way out. At least, that's what the internet would have you to believe.

In early 2024, American writer Ann Coultor met then Republican Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy and told him that she agreed with most of his ideas but would not vote for him because "he was Indian". This is part of the problem of the larger narrative against Indians in the US.

Indians, who constitute 73% of all H-1B visa holders and the second-largest foreign national group living in the US, with one of the largest with their median household far exceeding any other group, have become a matter of resentment and anger for many.

WHY MAGA BRICKBATS FOR INDIANS IN THE US?

Several people on social media platforms, like X and Reddit, are highlighting and explaining the MAGA "xenophobic reactions" towards Indian H-1B holders.

"I understand why you're finding the recent xenophobic reactions on X shocking. You believe you've come here and played the American game by its rules. One problem is not directly in your control, and that is the displacement of Americans from good jobs by Indians brought in on H-1B visas. This is being driven by cost pressures and MBA-think in industries that are mostly not run by Indians," an X user, Eric S Raymond posted. "You're developing a nasty reputation for preferentially hiring your own kind, locking out better-qualified Americans of other ethnicities."

Raymond said part of the problem was that "Conservative Americans don't like any religion that isn't even a recognisable monotheism", and claimed "high-caste behaviour patterns imported from India" was behind the "arrogant attitudes" of Indians.

INDIANS IN US: MODEL IMMIGRANTS TO PRIME MAGA TARGETS

Many people in the MAGA army feel that "American jobs are being taken by Indians now". "There is an obvious coup taking place in the US right before our eyes," shared a person on X.

People have made many kinds of Xenophobic comments on social media platforms. From asking if the Vice President's house would have a cow -- to attack second lady Usha Vance's Indian-origins -- to targeting Indian culture, the MAGA crowd has unleashed a barrage since December end.

"I went down to the digital rabbit hole of disgusting Indian culture. These people are vile and if Elon and Trump accomplish the mission assigned to them by their Jewish puppeteers, Americans will never be the same," it read.

"Many AI companies of note were founded by white Europeans. Indians may manage, but they cannot be founders", another person shared on X.

PEOPLE FIGHT BACK XENOPHOBIC COMMENTS AGAINST INDIANS

The MAGA tirade against Indians has shocked many, and people are countering them.

"You need to ease up on Indian nationals. Not all of them have an H-1B, and not all workers with H-1B are from India. You need to study advanced computer science before you complain that you don't make six figures at Meta or Google. And whining that those programs are too hard, the professors expect too much, etc., is not a good look," wrote Anna K Gorisch on X.

She was countering Raymond's arguments.

Some Indians are also realising this "pure hatred" and speaking up against it.

"The alt-right MAGA crowd is unleashing a full-blown racist tirade against Indians. Whether you're 2nd Gen or Nth Gen, the “model immigrant” is a myth. It’s no longer about H1B visas — this is pure hate. For them, it’s American culture vs. Indian culture," a person wrote an Indian on Reddit.

Indians were warning each other that those making the racist comments were real people and radicalising thousands of Americans.

"I made a post a few weeks ago about us needing to be vigilant and fighting back against these online racists. I got some people saying it's more or less just internet stuff and that people should just focus on themselves. NO, this is just getting worse towards us. You think it'll just stay online? These are mostly real people making these posts, and they're radicalising thousands of new people to hate Indians," wrote a user named Anish on Reddit.

Indians are feeling that the online racism could spill over as real-life harassment.

"I agree that the hatred for Indians currently is mostly online, but my fear is that once it shapes enough people's opinions about Indians with its crass stereotypes and once people feel confident of there being no pushback to racism against them, some might start venturing into offline harassment as well," a person wrote on Reddit.

America might have found its reset button in Trump, who got votes from a diverse range of voters, and not just the MAGA crowd. The newfound MAGA hatred towards Indians in the US, who have been the best example of assimilation, doesn't just threaten an excellent immigrant community, but risks alienating the diverse vote bank that Trump managed to create on his way to the White House to 'make America great again'.