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US Official Targets Indians, Hyderabad's Chilkur Balaji Temple Over H-1B Visas
US Senator Eric Schmitt criticised the US H-1B visa programme on X, linking it to a 'Visa Cartel' and referring to Hyderabad's Chilkur Balaji Temple as the 'Visa Temple.' He claimed these visa systems hollow the American middle class and that billions flow to India for AI training subsidised by Americans, while foreign students (many Indian) obtain subsidised work permits.
Why It Matters
The remarks intensify the public debate over U.S. visa policy and demonstrate how political rhetoric and symbolic sites can shape perceptions of immigration issues.
Timeline
1 Event
Schmitt posts series of X messages linking H-1B and related visas to a 'Visa Cartel' and referencing Chilkur Balaji Temple as the 'Visa Temple'
May 14, 2026
In a series of posts on X, US Senator Eric Schmitt criticised the US employment-based visa system (H-1B, L-1, F-1, OPT), alleging it suppresses local wages and creates a global 'Visa Cartel' that displaces American workers. He stated the 'Visa Cartel' has a 'Visa Temple' in Hyderabad where thousands of Indians circle altars and have passports blessed for U.S. work visas, and claimed Americans should not have to compete against a system he described as gamed. He further claimed billions flow to India for AI training subsidised by Americans, and that foreign students—almost half of whom are Indians—get taxpayer-subsidised work permits, with Indian visa holders sharing confidential interview questions and contributing to a shift away from merit-based hiring.