A heartwarming anniversary post for his wife by Indian-origin Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy was bombarded with racist and anti-immigrant comments by X users over his views on the H-1B programme. Both Ramaswamy, who had put his hat in the ring for the US presidential polls but withdrew from the race, and his wife Dr Apoorva have their roots in India.
Vivek Ramaswamy ‘Should Be Deported’
Why In News
- A heartwarming anniversary post for his wife by Indian-origin Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy was bombarded with racist and anti-immigrant comments by X users over his views on the H-1B programme. Both Ramaswamy, who had put his hat in the ring for the US presidential polls but withdrew from the race, and his wife Dr Apoorva have their roots in India.
- The backlash came as Ramaswamy, in a lengthy anniversary post, recalled how he met his wife at a college party. The couple, who have been married for 10 years, are parents to two children – Karthik and Arjun.
‘GO BACK TO INDIA’
- However, the biotech entrepreneur and Donald Trump loyalist was viciously trolled by social media users due to his Indian roots. Several users commented on his post with the caption, “Go back to India”. The post quickly sparked racist backlash online, with many users asking the couple to “go back to India”.
- “We would rather you go back to India and explore the hiking trails there please,” commented one user. “Don’t you have mountains in your home country?” wrote another.
- “You should be deported,” said a third user. “Why do you both look 3-4 shades lighter? You didn’t bleach your skin, did you?” asked another.
- The backlash and discriminatory comments underscore Mr Ramaswamy’s continued involvement in the H-1B visa controversy. Even though he has publicly criticised the H-1B visa program, critics online have accused him of favouring the very system because of his Indian identity.
- Notably, there has been an intense debate over the H-1B visa and its job market impact on American citizens ever since Donald Trump was re-elected as the US President. While the hard right argues that the H-1B visa holders “take away American jobs” and are a “threat to Western civilisation”, Mr Trump and his top officials have backed the H-1B programme saying “America needs talented people” so that world’s top talent lives and works in the US and help the country stay ahead of the global curve on technology, research and health care.
- Another comment said, “When is your dad getting deported?” A third user tweeted, “The beauty of the whiteness destroyed by brown”. “We would rather you go back to India and explore the hiking trails there,” another top post read.
- The backlash stems from Ramaswamy’s changing views on H-1B immigrant visas, most of which is cornered by Indian nationals. While the Republican leader has previously batted for more foreign workers in US companies, he has since voiced his opposition to the H-1B program, stating that it required major reforms.
- However, social media users, latching on to his previous remarks, have alleged that Ramaswamy would favour H-1B hiring if he were to become Ohio governor, based on the perception that “Indians hire Indians”.
- Calling the H-1B visa programme “indentured servitude”, Indian-American Republican presidential aspirant Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to “gut” the lottery-based system and replace it with meritocratic admission if he wins the race to the White House in 2024. Mr. Ramaswamy himself has used the visa programme 29 times.
- From 2018 through 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved 29 applications for Ramaswamy’s former company, Roivant Sciences, to hire employees under H-1B visas.
H-1B Visa
- H-1B is a non-immigrant visa which allows US-based companies to hire and employ foreign workers for specialty jobs like science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and IT (High skills and at least a bachelor’s degree)
- It was introduced in 1990 to help US employers address skill shortages when qualified US workers are unavailable.
- A nonimmigrant visa allows temporary entry to the US for purposes like tourism, business, work, study, or medical treatment.
- Visa Duration: An H-1B visa can be issued for a maximum of six years. After this period, the visa holder must either leave the US for at least 12 months before reapplying for another H-1B visa or apply for permanent residence (a Green Card).
