US lawmaker urges Trump to cancel H1B visas for Indians in trade tariff row

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday gave a bold suggestion to President Donald Trump as he threatened to hike tariffs on Indian goods and services.

She proposed Trump to instead stop issuing H1B work visas to Indians, who she said are “replacing American jobs”.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent MAGA figure, has claimed that the Republican Party has “turned its back on ‘America First’, the working class, and everyday Americans.”

She on post X, addressed the H-1B visa issue while also urging the Republican president to halt U.S. funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

She reiterated her belief that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict was triggered by former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as by what she refers to as “Neocon” ideology—a U.S. political stance advocating for the global promotion of democracy.

Her post also included a screenshot of Donald Trump’s Truth Social statement, in which he vowed to “substantially raise” tariffs on India in response to New Delhi’s “massive” purchases of Russian oil.

Trump imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, along with an unspecified penalty over India’s continued imports from Russia.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialized fields that require technical expertise, such as IT, engineering, finance, or medicine.

The worker must have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field and a job offer from a U.S. employer, who must sponsor the visa to qualify.

The visa is initially granted for three years and can be extended up to six years.

Due to high demand, it is issued through an annual lottery system, with 65,000 regular slots and an additional 20,000 for those with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions.

Data over the years showed that Indian nationals make up 72% of all H1B visa holders, with Chinese citizens following at 12%.