Former US Representative Dr Dave Brat has intensified the political backlash against the H-1B visa programme, alleging that it has been overtaken by large-scale fraud originating in India. In an appearance on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, Brat argued that the statutory cap of 85,000 H-1B visas is being rendered meaningless and claimed that the US consulate in Chennai alone issued more than 220,000 visas — nearly two-and-a-half times the nationwide limit set by Congress.
He asserted that 71 per cent of all H-1Bs granted in 2024 went to Indian nationals, portraying the imbalance as evidence of a broken system. Brat framed the controversy as an economic threat to American households, alleging that fraudulent applications displace US workers in key sectors.
His claims have revived earlier accounts from former US Foreign Service Officer Mahvash Siddiqui, who worked at the Chennai consulate in the mid-2000s. She previously described the H-1B system as highly vulnerable to forged documents, fabricated credentials and proxy applicants, and said that some anti-fraud efforts were discouraged due to political sensitivities. Siddiqui identified Hyderabad’s Ameerpet area as a location where training centres and document rackets openly supported visa fraud.
The controversy comes at a moment of renewed scrutiny under the Trump administration, which has linked visa oversight to US labour protection. Despite tough rhetoric from MAGA-aligned figures, the President has recently signalled continued support for the H-1B pathway, saying American industries require skilled global talent to fill gaps in the national workforce.
Indian professionals remain the largest beneficiaries of the programme — a trend that continues to fuel political debate over whether the visa category strengthens US competitiveness or threatens domestic employment.
