Indian-Origin Tech Founder Vijay Thirumalai Claps Back at Anti-India Sentiment on Social Media
Indian-origin tech entrepreneur Vijay Thirumalai has strongly pushed back against rising hatred targeting Indians on social media, which escalated following the release of the State Department's May 2026 visa bulletin. The controversy centers on the EB-5 Green Card program, with critics using the bulletin as a new excuse to fuel anti-Indian rhetoric.
EB-5 Green Card Demand Sparks Backlash
The visa bulletin indicated that Green Cards for EB-5 investors from India might face a sudden backlog due to overwhelming demand. It stated, "Sufficient demand and increased number use by India in the EB-5 unreserved visa categories may make it unnecessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category unavailable to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit. The situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly."
Under the EB-5 program, individuals must create jobs in the United States to qualify for a Green Card. A USCIS alert highlighting India's increased usage of this route triggered an outburst among some American CEOs, including Hany Girgis, founder of an American ed-tech company. Girgis wrote, "This is the same country already dominating H-1B and OPT backlogs. The entire employment-based green card system is collapsing under the weight of one country’s demand. Time to reform the caps and put Americans first."
Thirumalai's Defense of Indian Investors
In response, Thirumalai protested the targeting of Indian investors, reminding Girgis that these individuals are paying taxes and investing $800,000 in the US for a chance at a Green Card. He argued, "Indians are doing a favor by investing in EB5 & not the other way round. Instead of spewing racist garbage & venom + 7% country cap for Indian investors, it would do a world of good for US economy to have an accelerated EB5 queue for Indians, so that US companies could save billions of $ in capital cost every year."
Thirumalai further emphasized the critical role of Indian demand in the EB-5 program, adding, "Without Indian demand, 95% of EB5 projects won't fully subscribe & the lenders & valuable assets like Senior Housing, Data Centers, Industrial warehousing which aid US economy can't be built." His comments underscore the significant economic contributions of Indian investors to key sectors in the United States.
This debate highlights ongoing tensions in US immigration policy, particularly around country caps and the economic impact of foreign investment. As the State Department continues to monitor the situation, the discourse remains heated, with figures like Thirumalai advocating for a more nuanced understanding of Indian participation in programs like EB-5.
