Laura Loomer Faces Backlash for Comments About Indians Amid H-1B Visa Debate 1/2
Updated Dec 26, 2024 at 10:21 AM
Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, has faced backlash for her comments targeting Indian immigrants amid ongoing debates over H-1B visa policies in the U.S.
Loomer, a loyal MAGA supporter, made remarks that have been perceived as racially insensitive and have drawn criticism on social media. After describing migrants from the south Asian subcontinent as "third-world invaders from India," she was denounced as "racist" and criticized for failing to grasp the argument over the visas.
Newsweek has contacted Laura Loomer, the Trump transition team, and internet entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan, recently appointed as senior policy adviser for Artificial Intelligence at the White House, for further commentS.
Why It Matters
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, particularly in the tech industry. Discussions about reforming this program have intensified, with some advocating for the removal of country-specific caps on green cards to address extensive backlogs faced by applicants from countries including India.
Krishnan supports such reforms, arguing that the current system leads to unfair waiting times for qualified applicants.
What To Know
The H-1B visa is one of the most competitive categories in the U.S. immigration system, attracting numerous applicants, and major tech companies such as Amazon, Google, and Tesla are some of the top recipients. In 2024, more than 85,000 H-1B visas were approved, after 400,000 applications.
Loomer has expressed concern over the recent appointment of Krishnan as senior policy adviser for AI at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Loomer took to social media to voice her disapproval, calling Krishnan's appointment "deeply disturbing."
Her comments have been met with rebuttals from prominent figures. Entrepreneur David Sacks clarified that Krishnan advocates for removing country caps on green cards, not eliminating caps entirely, aiming to create a more merit-based system. Elon Musk also supported this position, stating, "Makes sense."
"Our country was built by white Europeans, actually. Not third-world invaders from India," Loomer said. "It's not racist against Indians to want the original MAGA policies I voted for. I voted for a reduction in H-1B visas. Not an extension."
Loomer, who described herself as a "proud Islamophobe," previously received widespread condemnation, including from Vice President-elect JD Vance and GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, another Trump loyalist, for saying that the White House "will smell like curry & White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center" if Kamala Harris, who is of Indian heritage, won the presidential election.
What People Are Saying
Sidharth Ram, a data architect and immigrant from Chennai, India, told Newsweek: "Laura is compromised. She's in bed with bad actors and is trying to change the narrative away from the border. Any smart administrator would steer clear of such rabid racists.
https://www.newsweek.com/laura-loomer-indians-h-1b-visa-2006120