A recent dispute over the impact of H-1B visas on US workers has been overshadowed by racist rhetoric, with troubling echoes of the great replacement conspiracy theory. In Frisco, Texas, several speakers at a City Council meeting riled up against foreign workers, describing them as “Indian takeover” and labeling some without proof.
Critics of the program point to examples like the 2015 decision to lay off technology workers at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, who were told to train their replacements with H-1B visas. However, economists have found that H-1B visa holders boost American productivity and raise wages even for American workers.
The tech industry needs the program because of a dearth of qualified Americans, while health care associations say it eases physician shortages. Despite this, many labor unions argue that it is ripe for abuse and displaces domestic workers. President Trump has fueled the debate with anti-immigrant rhetoric and recent moves, such as an executive order mandating a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications.
Asian American advocacy groups say there’s a surge in hate speech directed at South Asians, with 115% increase in online slurs between January 2023 and December 2025. This has led to concerns about the impact of racist rhetoric on the Indian community.
In recent months, prominent conservatives of Indian heritage like Vivek Ramaswamy have decried this rise in such rhetoric. Some local Republican politicians have also used such language, including Aaron Reitz, who wrote that Texas counties “may soon be renamed Calcutta, Delhi, & Hyderabad Counties” due to the alleged “invasion” of un-assimilated Indians.
The debate over H-1B visas has sparked a broader conversation about immigration and racism in America. As South Asian residents express their fears over the rhetoric, leaders like Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney emphasize the value and contributions of its population, which is one-third of whom are of Asian heritage.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/us/politics/h1b-visa-debate-racism-south-asians.html