The recent controversy around the H-1B visa program in the U.S. has revealed deep divisions within Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement as his second term begins. Once held up as a “model minority,” the Indian tech worker is now caught in a crisis of identity and politics. On one side, some in MAGA circles value the skills and economic benefits brought by these workers; on the other, nationalist voices see all immigration as a cultural threat.
Indian professionals have risen in the U.S. through a system that blends meritocracy with market-driven globalization. Many came after the 1965 Immigration Act, bringing engineering, medical, and scientific expertise that aligned well with America’s economic needs. India’s economic liberalization in the 1990s, combined with the tech boom, helped propel a generation of engineers to Silicon Valley, chasing the American Dream. Yet, this dream often came with precarious job security and subtle racial and class compromises.
As Trumpism grew, some upper-caste Indians aligned with its ideology, seeing shared values with their own ambitions. Figures like Vivek Ramaswamy symbolized this uneasy connection. However, recent events – including Ramaswamy’s removal from a Trump-led efficiency department – showcase the limits of this coalition. Divisions between economic pragmatism and rising white nationalism are straining the alliance between Indian professionals and America First ideologues.
Back in India, upper-caste elites mirrored this consolidation of power, tying economic policies to Hindu nationalism. Both at home and abroad, the Indian elite exploited systemic inequalities while avoiding accountability.
Ultimately, this fragile partnership is fracturing. As online hostility toward Indian immigrants grows, the disconnect between the ideals of global mobility and nationalist exclusion becomes increasingly stark. What began as a transactional relationship is now unraveling under the weight of competing identities and irreconcilable goals.
