US Economist Calls Indians ‘Most Positive’ Group, So Why Are MAGA Voices Targeting Them?

Last Updated:September 03, 2025, 12:57 IST

Indians are being accused of displacing US workers but data shows they fuel growth, pay more taxes, and lead major firms. So why the anger?

Indian Americans number 5.2 million, making up 21 per cent of the Asian-origin population in the US. (Representative image/PTI)

Indian immigrants, long celebrated for their educational and economic success, have become the latest flashpoint in America’s polarising immigration debate. In recent weeks, influential conservative voices have targeted the H-1B visa system, which benefits Indians, accusing it of displacing US workers. The backlash has triggered sharp responses from economists, business leaders, and Indian Americans themselves, who say the attacks ignore the facts.

One such defence came from an American economist.

Daniel Di Martino, a PhD candidate in economics at Columbia University and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, waded into the latest US immigration debate with an emphatic defence of Indians.

“Indians in America are a very positively selected group that my upcoming research with the Manhattan Institute finds Indians are the most positive national-origin group for the economy and federal budget. Indians in the US are good people, hard workers, law abiding, and highly educated,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Di Martino’s comments came in response to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who demanded that the US stop issuing visas to Indians. His intervention stood out amid increasingly hostile rhetoric surrounding the H-1B visa system, which benefits Indian workers.

Why Are Indian Immigrants Under Political Fire?

Charlie Kirk reignited the debate with a post: “America does not need more visas for people from India. Perhaps no form of legal immigration has so displaced American workers as those from India. Enough already. We’re full.”

He was echoing Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who argued that any trade deal with India would mean more visas. “I’d rather not pay them in visas and trade deficits,” she wrote, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could “see what terms he can get from Xi instead.”

The criticism came soon after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the H-1B visa as a “scam” that reduced wages and displaced American workers. Lutnick said immigration policy should instead reward wealthy entrants rather than skilled-worker applicants.

What Does The Data Show About Indians In America?

Pew Research Center’s May 2025 report offers a sharply different picture of Indian diaspora:

• Indian Americans number 5.2 million, making up 21 per cent of the Asian-origin population in the US.
• They have the highest median household income among Asian groups at $151,200, far above the US median of $75,500.
• They lead in education, with a majority holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, and Indian-origin adults are among the most likely to have advanced degrees.
• English proficiency is high, with strong integration into professional and academic sectors.

These figures align with Di Martino’s claim that Indians are “positively selected” and economically beneficial.

But thriving economically does not mean Indian Americans are free of challenges. The 2024 Indian American Attitudes Survey (IAAS), conducted by Carnegie Endowment and YouGov, found that over 50 per cent of Indian Americans reported experiencing discrimination in the past year, most commonly based on skin colour (30 per cent), religion (18 per cent), and national origin (18 per cent). Despite these challenges, Indian Americans remain highly civically engaged and lean strongly Democratic, with 67 per cent identifying as Democrats and only 14 per cent as Republicans.

Their visible success, combined with their political alignment, has increasingly placed them in the crosshairs of partisan immigration debates in the US.

How Much Do Indians Contribute To The US Economy?

Political consultant Frank Luntz noted that while Indian Americans make up just 1.5 per cent of the US population, they contribute an estimated 5 to 6 per cent of total federal income tax revenues, a reflection of their high earnings, education levels, and concentration in high-paying sectors like technology, medicine, and finance.

Entrepreneur Karl Mehta, responding directly to Charlie Kirk’s remarks, clarified that there is no such thing as “visas for Indians”, visa categories are based on type of work or study, not nationality. Indians dominate the H-1B category not because of special access, but because of merit and demand.

India produces the largest number of English-speaking STEM graduates in the world, and US companies, particularly in Silicon Valley, recruit this talent to fill critical shortages in specialised fields such as AI, data science, and bioengineering.

Indians currently account for nearly three-quarters of all H-1B visa holders, and are also among the most likely to transition to permanent residency, start companies, or climb into top leadership. Indian-origin CEOs lead Google, Microsoft, Adobe, IBM, and many other Fortune 500 firms. Indian entrepreneurs are behind some of America’s most successful unicorns, collectively generating millions of jobs for American workers.

Far from displacing US talent, this influx of highly skilled Indian professionals has been credited by economists and industry leaders with boosting US productivity, spurring innovation, and keeping American firms globally competitive in sectors that define the future of the economy.

Why Is There Growing Backlash Despite These Contributions?

The resentment reflects a modern paradox: immigrants were once accused of not contributing enough, now they’re resented for contributing too much.

US Journalist Billy Binion summed it up by saying: “Some conservatives don’t want competition from hardworking immigrants who outwork and outperform them. And here I’d been told progressives are the ones against merit.”

Avik Roy, a conservative American commentator, added: “The old anti-immigration line was that immigrants were lazy moochers. The new one is that they work too hard and make too much money.”

Social media reactions to Kirk’s remarks showed a deep divide. Some users echoed his claim that Indian workers dominate offices and tech firms. Others pushed back, arguing that limiting skilled immigration would cripple innovation, hollow out STEM talent, and hurt university budgets. Indian students alone contribute billions of dollars annually to the US education economy.

Why Trump’s China Policy Fuels ‘Double Standards’ Debate

The controversy has also drawn attention to perceived inconsistencies in US immigration policy.

Just days before Kirk’s comments, President Donald Trump announced that 600,000 Chinese students would be welcomed into American universities. At the same time, his administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports, while Chinese goods faced a maximum of 30 per cent.

Commentators like Ingraham criticised this move, claiming that American students would lose university spots to foreign applicants.

This contrast, welcoming Chinese students while restricting Indian visas and penalising Indian exports, has deepened concerns that Indian immigrants are being unfairly scapegoated.

Are Indian Americans Becoming Political Scapegoats?

Indian Americans are among the most successful immigrant groups in the United States. They are highly educated, earn the highest household incomes, and contribute disproportionately to taxes and innovation. Yet, that very success has made them a lightning rod in partisan debates about immigration, economic competition, and demographic change.

About the Author

Karishma Jain

Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar…Read More

Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar… Read More

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