- Major tech firms warn non-citizen employees against international travel due to re-entry risks.
- H-1B and Green Card rejection rates expected to climb amid stricter immigration policies.
- Foreign workers express fear and anxiety, always carrying legal documents while in the U.S.
Indian professionals working in U.S. tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are now facing heightened uncertainty. Amidst a resurgence of stricter immigration policies under the Trump administration, companies are advising non-citizen employees, especially H-1B visa holders, to avoid traveling outside the country.
The emotional toll is also rising. According to The Washington Post, foreign workers have started cancelling personal trips and are living cautiously. They always carry documentation in public.
We Always Carry Our Documents”: Indian Tech Workers Voice Anxiety Amid US Immigration Clampdown
The current U.S. immigration climate is once again becoming a source of anxiety for Indian professionals. With Donald Trump back in office, his administration is reportedly implementing tougher measures against non-citizen workers. Legal advisors are warning that the chances of visa denial at ports of entry, or during H-1B renewals, have significantly increased.
Tech companies, caught in the middle, are doing their part to protect their employees. Firms like Microsoft and Google have quietly advised staff to cancel or delay travel plans abroad. This precaution stems from recent instances where visa-holding workers were subjected to secondary screening or barred from re-entering the U.S.
The atmosphere within immigrant communities is one of constant vigilance. Employees describe how they now carry their documents at all times, even within the U.S., out of fear of being targeted or questioned by authorities. Many fear being wrongfully profiled, despite being in full compliance with visa regulations.
What’s also becoming evident is a political divide among Trump’s own supporters. While the tech industry urges support for skilled immigration to fuel innovation, hardline factions within his base continue to push for reducing all forms of immigration. This includes those critical to the U.S. economy. This ideological rift has sparked heated debates online and within policy circles.
As visa holders tread cautiously and tech giants scramble to provide legal support, the situation underscores the fragile position of high-skilled immigrants in a volatile U.S. political landscape.
“There’s an assumption that everybody who is not a U.S. citizen might be here illegally.”
