'End Indian H-1B visas replacing ...': US lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene reignites immigration debate

Greene made her comments alongside a repost of U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for increased tariffs on Indian exports

U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has reignited debate over the H-1B visa programme, calling for an end to what she described as “Indian H-1B visas replacing American jobs.”

Her comments, posted on microblogging site X late Monday evening, have sparked widespread discussion across Indian student and professional communities in the U.S.

End Indian H1-B visas replacing American jobs instead and stop funding and sending weapons to the Obama/Biden/Neocon Ukraine Russia war. pic.twitter.com/u4Q1dX4bo6

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— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) August 4, 2025

Remarkably, Greene’s remarks do not reflect any immediate policy shift. They, however, closely align with a broader push across the Republican Party for tighter restrictions on employment-based visas. Her statement also comes amid rising U.S.-India trade tensions, further intensifying the situation.

Also to be noted, Greene made her comments alongside a repost of U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for increased tariffs on Indian exports.

Trump is accusing India of profiting from its continued oil trade with Russia, alleging that New Delhi is purchasing “massive amounts” of Russian oil and reselling it on the global market.

“India doesn’t care how many people are killed in Ukraine by the Russian war machine,” Trump said, warning of “substantially” higher tariffs on Indian goods. The remarks follow his earlier imposition of a 25 percent reciprocal tariff on Indian exports.

Also Read: India hits back at Donald Trump amid fresh tariff threat over Russian oil imports

Greene’s post strongly reflects growing Republican criticism of the H-1B visa system, which allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals in specialised fields like IT, finance, engineering, and healthcare.

Notably, Indian nationals account for the vast majority of H-1B recipients, nearly 70 percent of the total approvals in fiscal 2024, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data.

Joseph Edlow, the recently appointed director of USCIS under the Trump administration, has also called for a major overhaul of the H-1B selection process.

Also Read | Indian state refiners may continue dirhams-only Russian oil deals amid fresh EU curbs, Trump's threats, sources say

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Edlow had argued that visa allocations should prioritise applicants with higher salaries and greater experience, rather than relying on the current lottery-based system.

For Indian students in the U.S., the H-1B visa often represents a key pathway to remain in the country after completing their education on an F-1 student visa and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Many view it as a stepping stone toward longer-term employment and permanent residency.