Domestic Changes with President Trump in Office

With evolving politics in the United States, South Asian communities face tumultuous times with changes in immigration policy, global trade, and domestic civil rights. From visa restrictions to heightened ethnic and religious profiling, and international policies that ripple back to communities in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—South Asians have been deeply impacted by the return of President Trump’s policies. Understanding how these policies affect this community offers insight into larger questions of race, immigration, and power in America—and how it is changing.

One major domestic impact of Trump’s policies is on immigration. Limitations and some revocations of H-1B and H-4 visas have affected many South Asian, specifically Indian, professionals and their spouses, especially in the technology sector. Furthermore, mass deportations have increased, with over 500 Indians deported between January and February 2025. Additionally, Indians face the longest green card wait times—some stretching over a decade.

South Asians make up a significant portion of the American STEM workforce—about 13%. Due to restrictions on F-1 visas and programs like OPT, there is widespread uncertainty and fear. Additionally, through social media monitoring, South Asian non-citizen students have been targeted for student visa revocations.

South Asians have also faced an increase in racial profiling and discrimination. With a rise in online hate, threats, and slur usage, there has also been an increase in criminal hate assaults and anti-migrant violence in New York City. With the dismantling of DEI programs and the reduction of legal safeguards, institutionalized discrimination is on the rise.

Overall, South Asians are experiencing many domestic changes under President Trump’s policies. These changes have created a time of fear and uncertainty across South Asian communities in the United States.