Kejriwal Urges Action from PM Modi on Trump’s H-1B Visa Move

Quick Summary:

• US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday, raising the annual fee for H-1B visas to $100,000, up from the previous range of $1,000-$5,000.
• The move is expected to severely impact Indian tech workers; currently, India accounts for 71% of H-1B visa holders in the US.
• Around 300,000 high-skilled Indian workers in the technology sector are on H-1B visas in the United States.
• Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of this issue via a post on X (formerly Twitter), questioning his ability to address critical matters affecting Indians abroad. He wrote in Hindi: “Prime Minister ji, do something at least.”
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concerns over potential disruptions for families and noted that skilled talent mobility benefits both countries economically and technologically.
• experts suggest that the steep fee hike could effectively dismantle existing H-1B visa programs by making it unaffordable for individuals earning median salaries.

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Indian Opinion Analysis:
The United States’ decision to drastically increase fees for it’s H-1B visa program is poised to cause notable disruptions for India’s high-skilled labor force in one of its most prominent global markets-the technology industry. With Indian professionals making up an overwhelming majority of beneficiaries under this program (71%), such a move not only threatens individual livelihoods but could also strain bilateral economic ties built on decades of skilled talent exchange.

India’s government response highlights these mutual benefits but cautiously reflects concern about potential humanitarian consequences related to disrupted family dynamics among those impacted. Calls from political figures like Arvind Kejriwal underscore domestic anxieties about how India’s leadership will tackle global shifts that directly harm its workforce abroad.

In broader terms, should this policy remain unchanged or escalate further under othre proposals targeting immigration reform by Trump’s management-or later leaders-it may push companies reliant on affordable tech expertise toward choice hubs outside traditional US markets.