Trump's Immigration Crackdown Creates Chaos for Indian Students and Professionals
As President Donald Trump completes one year of his second term, immigration policy emerges as his most turbulent battleground. Indian students, skilled professionals, and even green card holders now face constant uncertainty, fear, and sudden disruptions due to sweeping policy changes.
Student Enrolment Plummets Dramatically
The first shockwaves hit American university campuses hard. Enrolment of Indian students in US universities dropped by a staggering 70% to 75%. Study-abroad consultants confirm the Fall 2025 intake period suffered the most severe impact.
Visa interview slots became extremely scarce, forcing countless students to abandon their American dreams. Only applicants who completed their paperwork by February or March managed to proceed with their plans.
"This represents the first time in decades we witnessed such a sharp decline in enrolment numbers," stated Arvind Manduva of I20 Fever, a registered consultancy. "Increased scrutiny dramatically raised visa rejection rates. Combined with limited appointment availability, this made students reluctant to apply to top American universities."
Many hopeful students postponed their admissions to the Spring session, anticipating calmer conditions. Their hopes remained unfulfilled. Slots continued to be scarce while social media scrutiny reached unprecedented levels.
Sudden Visa Revocations Shock Students
For students already studying in America, the year proved even more difficult. US Department of State data revealed nearly 8,000 student visa revocations by mid-year.
The sudden nature of these revocations created widespread alarm. In April 2025, Indian students began receiving emails from Designated School Officials informing them their F-1 visa status was revoked. They received mere weeks to leave the country.
Many revocations connected to previously dismissed or resolved criminal charges. Students scrambled to find legal representation for intervention.
"I received a speeding ticket in 2024, but authorities filed no charges. Still, officials revoked my SEVIS status. After contacting a lawyer and submitting documentation, they reinstated it. Now we feel like we live on the edge every single day," shared a 25-year-old student who completed his master's in project management in Boston. His experience mirrors hundreds of others who sought legal help to remain in the United States.
H-1B Program Faces Mounting Pressure
The pressure extended beyond students. Skilled migration programs, particularly the H-1B visa, remained firmly in the political spotlight. Proposals for a $100,000 H-1B fee and repeated calls to scale down the program unsettled both employers and applicants.
Indians constitute approximately 72% of H-1B beneficiaries according to USCIS data, with most working in the information technology sector.
Deportation Numbers Reach Historic Highs
Policy decisions showed clear impact in official statistics. The US Department of State reported nearly 100,000 visa revocations across various categories during the past twelve months, with Indians forming a significant portion.
Deportations climbed to levels unseen in decades. Around 3,800 individuals, predominantly workers, faced deportation in 2025. Indian nationals were among the worst affected groups.
A Ministry of External Affairs report noted most Indians removed from the United States came from Washington DC and Houston. This group included 45 students.
Job Market Reacts With Caution
The employment landscape grew increasingly cautious. Companies delayed onboarding processes, froze visa transfers, and sometimes revoked job offers entirely.
"I cleared all interview rounds and received verbal confirmation from the talent acquisition team about my selection. They told me only the official letter remained pending. Later, they cancelled my offer," explained Saif H, a 27-year-old from Hyderabad who completed his business management master's in Texas. "They promised to reconnect when conditions improved, but they never followed up."
Surveillance measures added another layer of stress. A new US State Department rule warned H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents to maintain public social media accounts for visa vetting. The message was unambiguous: posts critical of America could trigger visa cancellations and deportations.
Simultaneously, the Department of Homeland Security ended automatic extensions of Employment Authorization Documents. Foreign workers now must stop working immediately when permits expire, unless renewals receive approval. Previously, foreign nationals could continue working legally while renewal applications remained pending, often for up to 540 days.
Distress Calls Surge to Indian Embassies
As anxiety intensified, Indian embassies and helplines recorded a sharp increase in distress calls. Over 620 immigration-related complaints registered on MEA grievance platforms like MADAD and CPGRAMS during the year.
"We continue receiving calls from students, professionals, and even long-term residents," said Ravi Lothumalla, immigration consultant and founder of US Admissions in Dallas. "Most concerns relate to increased document scrutiny, visa status issues, work authorization problems, and overstay situations under the current administration."
2026 Outlook Remains Uncertain
Immigration lawyers believe the challenging situation will likely continue through 2026.
"There exists a clear mandate to enforce every nuance of immigration law now," explained Nicole Gunara, principal immigration attorney at US-based Manifest Law. "Maintaining valid status, possessing correct work authorization, and responding promptly to government notices has never been more crucial."
Unsurprisingly, even established US residents now reconsider their futures. Aziz Nooruddin, a 57-year-old from Nagpur who lived in America for nearly twenty years, described unprecedented experiences in recent months.
"We pay taxes regularly, our children earn and pay taxes, and we follow every rule while building our lives here. Yet we have never felt this insecure before. Constant checks, carrying documents everywhere—we feel like criminals in the country we call home," he lamented.
Quiet Tightening of Immigration Screws
Over the past year, America implemented tighter immigration rules and stricter enforcement measures, fundamentally reshaping experiences for students, skilled workers, and visitors.
- $250 Compliance Fee: Starting January 2026, F, M, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants must pay an additional $250 beyond standard visa fees. This amount becomes refundable only if applicants meet all visa conditions and exit promptly.
- Social Media Scrutiny: Authorities now actively enforce the 2019 rule requiring disclosure of social media handles. Some applicants face delays despite maintaining clean profiles.
- Visa Processing Centralization: Officials process F, M and J visa renewals primarily in Chennai and Delhi, even when applicants submit documents elsewhere.
- Tighter Student Work Rules: USCIS increased scrutiny of on-campus jobs and Optional Practical Training. Unreported work or any F-1 work rule violation can lead to deportation or future visa denial.
- 'Specialty Occupation' Norms: USCIS updated the definition of 'specialty occupation.' Educational qualifications must now directly align with job duties rather than merely connecting. Someone with a business degree cannot secure a coding position.
- More Workplace Inspections: USCIS officers may visit workplaces, including third-party sites, to verify roles, duties, and wages.
- Higher H-1B Sponsor Costs: Employers face a one-time $100,000 fee for sponsoring H-1B workers. The H-1B registration fee also increased from $10 to $215.
- Spike in Request for Evidence: There is a noticeable increase in RFEs—notices USCIS sends when applications lack documents or require clarification. These can delay or cause petition denial, especially for tech roles or jobs involving contractors.
- B1/B2 Rescheduling Limits: Applicants who cancel or miss a B1/B2 interview can reschedule only once without charge. Any further attempts require paying the full visa fee again.
- End of Automatic EAD Extensions: Workers must now cease employment once Employment Authorization Documents expire, unless renewals receive approval. Previous extensions permitted work continuation for up to 540 days.
