A political firestorm has ignited between two Republican figures over the definition of the "American Dream" and the contentious role of the H-1B visa program, with a Florida candidate making pointed allegations against Indian professionals.
The Spark: A War of Words on X
The controversy began when Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate now running for Governor in Ohio, took to social media platform X to champion American exceptionalism. He asserted that the dream of unique opportunity is exclusively American, dismissing parallels in other nations. "There's no 'Canadian Dream.' There's no 'British Dream.' There's no 'Chinese Dream.' It's called the American Dream for a reason," Ramaswamy declared.
This post prompted a sharp rebuke from James Fishback, a former advisor to the Department of Global Entrepreneurship (DOGE) and a current candidate for Florida Governor. Fishback, a vocal critic of immigration programs, directly linked the concept to job losses for American citizens. "There's no 'American Dream' when H-1Bs can come here and steal our jobs and dignity," he replied on X. He framed his gubernatorial campaign around ending what he termed the "H-1B scam."
Fishback's Campaign Focus: Restricting H-1B Visas
James Fishback has made immigration restriction, particularly targeting the H-1B skilled worker visa, the cornerstone of his political platform. He formally launched his campaign last week, telling CNN that American graduates in Florida are being sidelined. "You have got recent college graduates in my home state of Florida who cannot get jobs," he argued, calling the import of "cheap labour" for IT and accounting roles from India and China "preposterous."
When questioned about singling out Indian Americans, who constitute less than one percent of Florida's population, Fishback defended his stance with statistics. "I single out Indian Americans not because they are Indian Americans; I single them out because they receive about 77 per cent of all H-1B visas," he stated, adding, "I don't hate immigrants, but I love our own people." He has repeatedly claimed the program blocks opportunities for US workers and unfairly benefits Indians, arguing that even naturalized citizens should not be part of this national ideal.
Radical Proposal and Political Repercussions
Fishback's proposals are among the most drastic heard in the current political cycle concerning the H-1B program. He has vowed that, if elected, he would terminate every H-1B visa holder in the state of Florida. This stance sets up a clear ideological battle within the Republican party, contrasting with figures like Ramaswamy who emphasize the unifying narrative of the American Dream.
The clash highlights a deep internal divide on immigration and economic policy. While Ramaswamy's comments focused on national pride and unique opportunity, Fishback's retort reframes the debate around protectionism and domestic job security. This exchange is likely to intensify scrutiny on the H-1B program and influence the discourse in both the Florida gubernatorial race and broader national conversations about skilled immigration, particularly concerning Indian tech professionals who are the primary beneficiaries of the visa.
