An American social media commentator has ignited a firestorm with sweeping allegations of systemic fraud involving Indian nationals in the United States immigration system. Andrew Branca, a US-based influencer, made a series of controversial comparisons and claims, targeting the academic integrity of Indian professionals seeking opportunities abroad.
Allegations of "Low-Trust, High-Fraud" Cultures
In his remarks, Branca drew a parallel between different forms of alleged exploitation. He claimed that while individuals from Somalia might fraudulently access US healthcare systems due to poverty, Indians, he argued, engage in academic and professional scams. His comments were rooted in recent reports from Indian law enforcement regarding operations against fake degree mills.
Branca framed this not as an issue specific to India, but as a characteristic of what he termed "low trust, high fraud" third-world countries. He asserted that if a system like America's allows people from such backgrounds to easily scam and advance, they will inevitably do so. A core part of his argument was the claim that "nobody hates living in India like Indians," suggesting this fuels a desperate desire to avoid deportation at any cost.
Focus on Fake Degrees and Visa Fraud
The influencer specifically referenced the seizure of 100,000 fake diplomas and described "open-air PhD mills" operating in Delhi and across India like flea markets. From this, he extrapolated that fraud is "an intrinsic and endemic facet of Indian culture," a trait he extended to other societies he labeled similarly.
Branca called for extreme scrutiny of Indian immigration applications. "I expect if a commission were to closely examine every Indian visa, green card, and naturalization, we would of course find similar fraud THERE," he stated. He expressed doubt that even 1 in 10,000 applications by Indian nationals is entirely free of fraud as required by law, and controversially advocated that "EVERY ONE SHOULD BE REVOKED." He believes the seized certificates represent just a fraction of a much larger problem.
Claims About H-1B Visas and Professional Networks
Branca directly challenged the notion that the H-1B visa program brings in "the best and the brightest." Instead, he alleged it often brings "people with fraudulent degrees." He argued that once an individual secures an H-1B visa, they are "in the door," and then benefit from what he described as the "ethno-fascist in-group preference" and "in-clan hiring" practices of other Indians already in America.
Further escalating his claims, Branca stated that medical degrees can be bought in India for a few thousand dollars. He posed a rhetorical question: "Imagine you are an Indian and you live in the hellhole that is India. You realize that America has developed a situation where you could buy a degree... and get yourself into the H-1B pipeline... Why exactly wouldn't you do that?" This, coupled with his assertion about Indians' purported hatred for their homeland, formed the basis of his perceived motivation for fraud.
The comments from the US influencer present a highly contentious and sweeping generalization about Indian immigrants and the integrity of India's education system. They tap into ongoing debates about immigration reform, visa fraud, and the verification of international credentials in the United States.
