H-1B visa holders in the US are not liable to explain themselves to private citizens like anti-immigration influencers, immigrations attorneys said.
In the wake of several incidents where influencers barged inside private properties to apparently investigate H-1B visa abuses, immigration attorneys Rahul Reddy and Emily Brown said H-1B visa holders have rights to not engage with such so-called influencers. In their weekly visa discussion, Brown said H-1B visa holders legally residing in the US must know that a law enforcement officer, an ICE officer and an anti-immigrant influencer are not the same.A few months ago, Texas YouTuber Sara Gonzales did her own sting operation as she turned up at addresses registered as H-1B companies. She recorded how there were no operations going on at those places and one particular office address turned out to be a residential address. Then the YouTuber went to a food truck and called out the H-1B man who was at the food truck accusing him of doing a side business while being in the US on H-1B. Several influencers started doing the same as anti-India content has been raking in views on all social media platforms. YouTuber Tyler Oliveira recently released a similar video where he went inside shops, interviewed those working there etc.
5 things H-1B visa holders can do if they are harassed by influencers
Reddy and Neumann said H-1B visa holders are not liable to give their official documents to any influencer. The Public Access Files, the LCA files are documents for the use of the company and no private individual has the right to ask for these to the H-1B visa holders.Don’t open the doorNeumann said H-1Bs when faced such a situation where an influencer is knocking on a residential property should not open the door in the first place.Ask them to leaveThey should ask such intruders to leave and if they don’t they can be considered as trespassers.Don’t engage, don’t confrontRahul Reddy said there is no need to act nice because these influencers are predetermined to insult the Indian community. It’s best to not engage at all because no one can talk logic to them if they are out to insult H-1B, Green Card. “Don’t try to impress them,” Reddy said. Engaging with such camera-holding influencers also become viral social media content.Ask for credentialsIf they claim to be government officials, ask to see their credentials. Take photos of IDs if they show any and keep it for future need.Call the policeThe attorneys said if the harassment continues and if the influencer does not leave the premise, H-1Bs can seek the help of the law enforcement.
