A prominent MAGA-aligned social media figure has ignited a fierce controversy by calling for the deportation of Indian professionals working in the United States on H-1B visas, arguing that their economic contributions are irrelevant compared to the preservation of American culture.
Branca's Provocative Claims on X
Andrew Branca stirred a significant row after posting a video on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter. In his statement, he asserted that Indian workers on H-1B visas should be deported, even if they contribute substantially to the US economy. Branca dismissed the idea that financial benefits could justify their presence, insisting that only native American workers are entitled to these jobs.
"Even if it were true that every Indian deported or not brought in on an H1B somehow costs the US economy $100,000 in taxes paid or whatever—and it's not—I would still deport," Branca declared in his post. He elaborated that, in his view, foreign workers have effectively "stolen" employment opportunities from American citizens.
Economic Arguments Dismissed, Cultural Fears Emphasized
Branca attempted to counter economic reasoning by claiming that if an Indian professional did not hold a job, an American would, thereby making the tax contribution a "wash." He went further to state that even if the country suffered an economic loss, deportation would still be justified from his perspective.
The core of his argument shifted from economics to identity. Branca asserted that immigrants from what he termed "third-world" countries are undermining America's "first-world, largely white culture." He framed mass migration as a destructive force, claiming, "Whatever economic value they're adding to America, they're destroying America's high trust first world largely white culture through contamination and infection with the third-world culture they bring with them."
He also specifically rejected data suggesting Indian workers pay high taxes, referring to a figure claiming an average of $89,000 per worker as a "lie." For Branca, no amount of economic compensation could justify what he perceives as the erosion of American cultural values.
Broader Context of US Immigration Debates
Branca's inflammatory comments do not exist in a vacuum. They emerge amid ongoing and heated debates in the United States concerning the H-1B visa program and a push for more hardline conservative immigration policies. This rhetoric has gained renewed momentum following an announcement by former President Donald Trump in September, proposing a hefty $100,000 fee for certain visa applications.
The incident highlights the tense climate surrounding skilled immigration, particularly affecting the large Indian diaspora in the US tech and professional sectors. It underscores a growing strand of argument that prioritizes nativist cultural preservation over global talent recruitment and economic metrics, setting the stage for continued political and social friction.
