Ashish Chauhan, a 29-year-old finance professional from India, dreams of pursuing an MBA at an American university next year – a goal he describes as being ‘stamped in his brain’. However, amidst an immigration row sparked by President-elect Donald Trump’s supporters over a long-standing US visa programme, he now feels conflicted. The H-1B visa programme, which brings skilled foreign workers to the US, faces criticism for potentially undermining American workers, yet is praised for attracting global talent. President-elect Trump, once a critic, now supports this 34-year-old programme, while tech billionaire Elon Musk defends it as crucial for securing top engineering talent. Indian nationals, like Mr. Chauhan, dominate the programme, receiving 72% of H-1B visas, followed by 12% for Chinese citizens. In 2023, the majority of H-1B visa holders worked in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with 65% in computer-related jobs, and their median annual salary was $118,000. Concerns over H-1B visas are intertwined with broader immigration debates. A Pew Research report shows that US immigration rose by 1.6 million in 2023, the largest increase in over 20 years, with immigrants now comprising over 14% of the population – the highest since 1910. India has surpassed China as the leading source of international students in the US, with a record 331,602 Indian students in 2023-2024, according to the latest Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. Many rely on loans, and any visa freeze could potentially devastate family finances. India is working to ensure the H-1B visa programme remains secure as Trump prepares to take office later this month.