H-1B Fight Spills Into Anti–South Asian Racism

The intensifying fight over America’s H‑1B work visa is spilling into overt racism aimed at South Asians, with heated public meetings, viral posts and political broadsides increasingly targeting Indian and other South Asian communities alongside policy arguments.

What Happened

The New York Times reported on February 16, 2026 that debate over visas for high‑skilled foreign workers has morphed into a culture‑war flashpoint, with some activists and speakers invoking conspiracy‑tinged rhetoric about demographic change. In Frisco, Texas, a recent city council meeting drew speakers who framed an “Indian takeover,” shifting the conversation from program design to identity and belonging. The Times’ account captures how online agitation and local organizing are amplifying the tenor of the fight far beyond standard immigration policy disputes.

Why It Matters

South Asians—especially Indians—have long been concentrated in the H‑1B pipeline, making them the most visible lightning rod when the program becomes politicized. Indians are the largest H‑1B beneficiary group, and that prominence is being used by some to cast a broader narrative of displacement that blurs the line between policy critique and prejudice. A year earlier, the Washington Post chronicled how criticism of the program from U.S. far‑right figures reverberated in India and among Indian Americans, drawing accusations of racism from commentators and community leaders. Together, the reporting underscores how a technical labor program is now entangled with identity politics at home and abroad.

Flashpoints And Reactions

Enforcement moves have added fuel. On January 28, 2026, Texas’ attorney general opened a sweeping probe into alleged H‑1B abuse at three North Texas firms, citing evidence of sham offices and fraudulent sponsorships. While due process will determine what’s legitimate fraud, the announcement landed amid an already febrile discourse, ensuring fresh scrutiny—and, advocates say, new opportunities for bad‑faith actors to generalize from alleged cases to whole communities.

Local officials and South Asian residents in North Texas have pushed back, urging neighbors to separate legitimate policy concerns—like wage protections and program integrity—from racialized claims. Civil rights groups warn that when public forums normalize slurs or “replacement” tropes, it chills participation and heightens fears of harassment among families who have lived, worked and paid taxes in these communities for years.

What’s Next

The policy fight isn’t going away: lawmakers and agencies continue to weigh changes to selection mechanics and anti‑fraud rules. Community leaders, meanwhile, are pressing for basic ground rules in civic spaces—condemning bigotry while welcoming tough, evidence‑based debate on visas, wages and skills. The test ahead is whether cities can keep that debate focused on facts—without turning neighbors into targets.

Sources

• How the H-1B Visa Debate Is Driving a Wave of Racism Against South Asians — The New York Times (February 16, 2026)
• Indians slam MAGA ‘war’ over H-1B skilled-worker visas as ‘racist’ — The Washington Post (January 7, 2025)
• Attorney General Ken Paxton Announces Sweeping Investigation Into H‑1B Visa Abuse, Starting With Three North Texas Businesses — Texas Attorney General (January 28, 2026)