Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar, a Democrat from Michigan, has spoken out against racism and Hinduphobia after facing an outpouring of xenophobic and hateful comments. The backlash followed Thanedar’s support for the H-1B visa program and his push to expand legal immigration to maintain America’s competitive edge in innovation.
Thanedar, born in Karnataka, India, criticized the way the H-1B visa conversation had been co-opted by “MAGA racism and xenophobia,” stressing the importance of streamlining the visa and green card processes to foster innovation. In a tweet, he emphasized that increasing H-1B visas would allow America to sustain its leadership in discovery and innovation.
In response to the racist remarks, including calls for him to “go back to India,” Thanedar introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Hinduphobia. He pointed out that such bigoted rhetoric is prevalent in online discussions, especially those related to H-1B visas, and stressed the need for unity in combating racism in the U.S.
The H-1B visa program, which allows skilled foreign workers to work temporarily in the U.S., has been a point of contention for years, with critics from hard-right factions arguing that it drives down wages and replaces domestic workers. Indian nationals are the largest group to benefit from the program, often becoming targets of these xenophobic arguments.
Despite the challenges, Thanedar remains committed to his stance on immigration reform, advocating for policies that support innovation while rejecting the hate-filled rhetoric targeting Indian Americans.
