The Trump administration announced an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for 75 countries starting January 21, 2026. The US State Department says this aims to end abuse of the system by those who might misuse public benefits. Countries affected include Brazil, Iran, Russia, Somalia, and several African nations. However, Indian nationals remain unaffected. This exclusion has angered parts of the MAGA base. “Why is India not on that list,” asked one Reddit user. Another said, “The billionaires need them for the H-1B visas.” Others commented, “What country should be next? India,” and “Is this really the priority for America to become great again? And India is happy right now.” The Republican Party supports inviting high-skilled immigrants, mainly through the H-1B visa program, to fill crucial roles in tech and defense. Indians and Chinese dominate these professions. Yet, the H-1B program faces strong conservative criticism. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called it a “total scam,” alleging it replaces American workers with cheaper foreign labor, mainly Indians. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk wants to stop issuing “more visas for people from India,” saying the country is “full.” Far-right commentator Laura Loomer urges dismantling parts of the H-1B system. Indian-origin Nikki Haley’s son, Nalin Haley, is also a vocal ‘America First’ advocate calling for an end to both legal and illegal immigration. Still, the MAGA view isn’t unanimous. Former President Trump has said H-1B visas are needed to fill specialized US jobs where American talent is lacking. Tech leaders like Elon Musk defend the program as essential to close skill gaps. Meanwhile, the administration has tightened immigration rules overall. It has revoked over 100,000 visas since 2025 and introduced a $100,000 fee for H-1B applications. These moves hit Indian applicants hard.