Indian American Entrepreneur Faces Threats Amid H1-B Visa Debate

Amid the ongoing H1-B visa debate in the United States, triggered by Donald Trump’s presidency and the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) campaign, an Indian American entrepreneur, Sidharth, claimed that MAGA supporters leaked his personal contact information. What followed was a series of personal threats that led him to appeal on social media for the harassment to cease.

Support for Legal Immigration

Sidharth, known for his vocal support of legal immigration, expressed his distress on the platform X, previously known as Twitter. In his bio, he describes himself as a “highly skilled Indian immigrant,” investor, technopreneur, and engineer, dedicated to creating jobs and fostering collaboration between young Indian and American graduates.

Threats and Deleted Posts

In a post that has since been deleted, Sidharth stated, “My personal phone number has been leaked, and I am getting personal threats. I once again appeal to large MAGA accounts to stop this onslaught of bots onto me!” He emphasized the impact of these threats on his personal life, mentioning, “I have a young family, and you are trying to harm my family.”

The Controversy with MAGA Influencers

This incident occurs alongside accusations from MAGA influencers directed at tech billionaire Elon Musk, whom they allege of censoring dissenting views on X. These accusations arose after at least 14 accounts lost their blue verification badges—a feature enabling monetization. Influencer Laura Loomer, among the critics, claimed she was banned from purchasing X premium and that a significant portion of replies to her posts were marked as spam following an online dispute with Musk.

Sidharth’s Critique

Amid the ongoing controversy, Sidharth criticized what he described as “selective cancellations,” comparing them to a defective fire alarm that activates only under selective circumstances. He stated, “Selective cancellations are like a fire alarm that only goes off when someone they hate lights a candle, but stays silent while their friends are setting the whole building on fire and roasting marshmallows.”

Donald Trump’s Stance on H-1B Visas

In an additional layer to the immigration discourse, US President-elect Donald Trump recently expressed support for the H1-B visa program, aimed at bringing highly skilled workers to the US. This stance has ignited conflict between his traditional voter base and technology leaders like Elon Musk.

The ongoing H1-B visa debate continues to spark tensions, with significant implications for legal immigrants, tech companies, and political influencers across the United States.