The Hindu American Foundation has strongly objected to controversial statements made by US economist Dr Dave Brat regarding H-1B visa distribution from India's Chennai district. The organization labeled Brat's claims as unfounded and potentially dangerous misinformation.
Unverified Claims Spark Controversy
Dr Dave Brat, a former US representative, made startling allegations during an appearance on Steve Bannon's podcast. He asserted that only the Chennai district in India received 220,000 H-1B visas, dramatically exceeding established limits. Brat further claimed that 71% of H-1B visas originate from India, with merely 12% coming from China.
The most explosive part of his statement suggested that one district issued 2.5 times the cap that Congress has established for H-1B visas. Given that the US cap for H-1B visas stands at 85,000 annually, excluding renewals, extensions, or dependent visas, this would represent a significant violation if proven true.
HAF's Fact-Based Rebuttal
The Hindu American Foundation responded with a detailed clarification, expressing concern about the spreading misinformation. "We are troubled by the misinformation being shared about the Chennai Consulate supposedly issuing 220,000 H-1B visas," the organization stated.
HAF emphasized that while multiple media outlets reported Brat's claims, they consistently noted that the figure hasn't been independently verified by any official US government source. The foundation provided crucial context about how visa caps actually function.
The 85,000 cap applies exclusively to new visas selected through the lottery system and doesn't include renewals, extensions, or dependent visas. This distinction is critical because a consulate can process numerous visa events without necessarily violating the annual cap.
Origins of the Controversial Numbers
The specific figure of 220,000 H-1B visas appears to have originated from Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies. During a podcast conversation with Mahvash Siddiqui, a US Foreign Service officer formerly posted at the Chennai consulate two decades ago, Vaughan made the precise claim.
Vaughan stated that the Chennai consulate adjudicated "220,000 H-1Bs and 140,000 H-4 visas for their family members in 2024 alone." She described the Chennai consulate as one of the world's largest H-1B visa-processing consulates, handling applications from Hyderabad, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Broader Implications and Concerns
Beyond factual inaccuracies, HAF highlighted the dangerous potential of such statements. The organization warned that "making sweeping statements like this about a community or a country, especially from a political leader, is dangerous and ignorant."
Such claims can inflame prejudice and spread misinformation, creating unnecessary tensions between communities and nations. HAF urged media outlets and the public to treat these allegations as unverified claims rather than established facts until proper documentation emerges.
The foundation stressed the importance of verifying data before public figures make dramatic assertions about immigration patterns, particularly when such statements could affect international relations and community perceptions.
