Introduction
According to recent reports, hundreds of Indian students are either facing visa cancellations or are at risk of their visas being cancelled. This aligns with the Trump administration’s vocal anti-immigrant policies. This article explores the reasons behind this policy shift, whether or not it points to a larger problem, and the implications of it for Indians living in the US.
The Current Crisis: Visa Cancellations for Indian Students
According to a report by India Today, hundreds of Indian students are facing visa cancellations, even when found not guilty by the court. For example, students have faced revocations for issues like identity theft (found not guilty), minor traffic violations, and other minor infractions.
These cancellations will force the students to self-deport within 15 days, or else they will face long-term visa restrictions with forced deportation. This comes in the wake of Donald Trump’s election as President, who is known for his strict anti-immigration stance.
Trump’s Anti-Immigration Legacy: From Past to Present
Trump has been known for his anti-immigration stance since his first term as president. During his first term, Trump’s administration unleashed a series of aggressive anti-immigration policies that reshaped the U.S. immigration landscape entirely. Under the banner of “America First,” Trump introduced sweeping restrictions on both legal and illegal immigration. This included the travel ban targeting certain countries, the reduction of refugee admissions to historic lows, the rescission of DACA protections for undocumented youth (though later blocked by courts), and efforts to end programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
But this time the situation is a bit different, with Indians being the only ethnicity to face deportation risks even after being legal residents in the country. Selective racism towards Indians has become rampant since Trump took over the White House. During his last tenure, there was no selective targeting, but this is not the case this time.
The Success Paradox: Why Indians Are Targeted Despite Their Contributions
Indians have emerged as the most successful ethnic group in the United States. They have the highest average income among all ethnicities, having worked their way to the top by following rules, regulations, and a strong work ethic. Indians have a median household income of approximately $122,149, significantly higher than the U.S. national median of $67,521, with around 79% of Indian Americans holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to the national average of about 34%.
This very success is the reason why racism against Indians is rampant. Natives have this growing sentiment that their jobs are being taken over by Indians while they themselves struggle to pay their bills and rent. In such a circumstance, they feel it is unfair for the U.S. government to give jobs and other privileges to immigrants.
Federal Workforce Cuts: The Hidden Agenda Behind Layoffs and Private Sector Shifts
Ever since Trump returned to office in January 2025, his administration has aggressively pursued a substantial cutting of the federal workforce, which is by far the biggest employer in the United States. By April 2025, over 200,000 federal employees have already been laid off, with estimations that up to 500,000 jobs could be eliminated through layoffs, buyouts, or reclassifications by June itself.
These steps are part of the administration’s broader initiative, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk, which aims at streamlining government operations and cutting costs.
While this may sound like a lucrative step, it poses many challenges for the Trump administration—the biggest being how to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of laid-off workers.
To solve this problem, the Trump administration has announced that the laid-off workforce will be absorbed into the private sector. However, accommodating hundreds of thousands of native workers in the private sector is not an easy task. It would require removing an equal number of existing employees to create vacancies.
Now, since the Trump administration cannot lay off native workers themselves, their immediate target becomes the Indians working in the U.S. private sector.
There have already been reports of Indian employees being fired from their companies for unexplained reasons. Not only that, but even individuals with strong resumes are struggling to get hired.
Economic Turmoil: How U.S. Debt and De-Dollarization Fuel Anti-Immigrant Sentiment
The United States is currently facing a massive $36 trillion debt, which represents one of the biggest challenges for the Trump administration. The creation of DOGE is one step toward addressing this debt. Following that is the ongoing process of de-dollarization, along with the growing isolation of the United States. According to experts, the dollar is expected to begin losing value by the end of this year, which could trigger a financial crisis.
In such a scenario, the administration will be forced to answer to the natives as to why immigrants are holding the jobs when the natives themselves are suffering due to the crisis. If this issue isn’t addressed, Trump could face a defeat in the U.S. midterm elections which are to happen in July-August 2026.
Key Citations:
Times of India
NDTV
The Economist
NBC News
Hindustan Times
