In the wake of President Trump's H-1B visa overhaul, several US companies are facing a growing anti-Indian backlash, with firms accused of replacing American workers with Indian professionals. Major corporations in sectors like logistics, retail, and telecom, including FedEx, Walmart, and Verizon, have been targeted with coordinated online abuse, harassment campaigns, and boycott calls. This backlash has intensified following the Trump Administration's changes to the H-1B visa program, which disproportionately affects Indian nationals, who constitute a significant portion of skilled foreign workers in the US.
The shift marks an escalation, with American firms now being singled out for employing Indian-origin executives or staff. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts accusing US firms of enabling an "Indian takeover," often accompanied by racist slurs and threats. One particular incident involved a road accident involving a FedEx vehicle, which online commentators linked to the Indian heritage of the company's chief executive, leading to calls for boycotts. Accusations have also surfaced that FedEx chief executive Raj Subramaniam has been laying off White American workers and replacing them with Indian workers. The company has denied these allegations.
The Trump administration's changes to the H-1B visa program include a steep $100,000 application fee and wage-based prioritization, which the administration says is designed to "protect American workers". Starting in February 2026, US authorities are expected to prioritize the highest-paid applicants, further narrowing pathways for skilled migrants. The new weighted selection process will complicate employers' hiring of foreign national professionals who are recent university graduates and may also disincentivize employers from selecting candidates for H-1B registration generally.
Investigations into alleged visa fraud have also amplified the backlash. Following the launch of a federal probe dubbed 'Project Firewall' into H-1B hiring practices, anonymous accounts published personal details of employees at companies like Walmart, Verizon, and Dish Network, accusing them of illegally selling jobs to Indian nationals.
Experts monitoring anti-Indian sentiment online say hatred increased after President Trump announced changes to the H-1B visa program to restrict the entry of foreign skilled labor into the US. A statement from India's external affairs ministry said the fee would have humanitarian consequences “by way of the disruption caused for families”. India's commerce minister Piyush Goyal said, "They are also a little afraid of our talent".
The new rules, including higher fees, wage-based lotteries and tougher background checks, could further restrict visas unless American courts step in to block them. The policy is expected to deter companies from hiring lower-wage workers on H-1B visas. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond suggests that companies may shift operations to other countries—notably India and Canada—if they have trouble hiring through the H-1B program.
The changes in the H-1B visa program could serve as an opportunity for India, as it could stanch the brain drain that the country has long suffered from. However, for thousands of young people around the world still captivated by the American dream, this is a blow. More than 70 percent of all H-1B visas were granted to Indian nationals in 2024. Now, thousands across India fear that this pathway to the US is being slammed shut.
The Trump administration also imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. A number of US employers paused H-1B hires and pulled back on sponsorship for the program following news of the $100,000 fee.
