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"Turning your back on Indian community?” student confronts Vivek Ramaswamy on H-1B Visa stance
"Why are you turning your back on the Indian community man?,” she confronted Ramaswamy, who then responded, acknowledging the broken nature of the current H-1B system.
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Vivek Ramaswamy / Image- X (@VivekGRamaswamy)
During an event at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, an Indian student questioned biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on his position concerning the H-1B visa program.
The girl emphasized the importance of the program to the Indian community and Ramaswamy's connections to it, noting his previous remarks that challenged the meritocracy of the H1-B dependents permitted entry into the US.
“You were quoted saying that people who come to this country as family members are not the meritocratic citizens who should be accepted,”the student asked highlighting the visa’s significance to the Indian community, who are the majority beneficiaries as well noting that Ramaswamy ‘s company had hired employees on H-1B visas as well.
"Why are you turning your back on the Indian community man?,” she confronted Ramaswamy, who then responded, acknowledging the broken nature of the current H-1B system.
The Republican criticized it as a tool of Silicon Valley lobbying, stating, “If you get your H-1B visa and you’re hired by one company, you’re effectively like a slave—you can’t switch to a different company.” He expressed frustration with the bureaucracy and the lottery-based system of the visa, advocating for a more meritocratic process.
Ramaswamy reiterated his support for selecting immigrants based on their potential contributions to the U.S. “As a legal immigrant's child, I believe we should prioritize immigrants who benefit America. But that's not the standard we’re using today,” he remarked.
“You need to shut it down, start with a blank slate, and rebuild from scratch,” he asserted.
The exchange sparked further debate online, with one X user sharing the video and commenting, “H1B visas are not given away—you have to get a qualifying job and then go through the lottery.” Another user described the program as “slavery,” echoing concerns about the constraints placed on H-1B visa holders.
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