As American tech workers protest mass layoffs at major companies like Walmart, Indian-American Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy has found himself at the center of a heated debate over H-1B visas.
Social media users have accused him of potentially flooding Ohio with foreign workers if elected governor, reviving long-standing tensions around immigration and labor.
Last December, Ramaswamy stirred controversy by criticizing aspects of American work culture while defending the need for skilled foreign workers, which resurfaced amid recent layoff news.
“Ohio is finished if Vivek is elected,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Prepare for hordes of imported H-1B Indians displacing American workers. What’s the point of electing a ‘Republican’ who’s an Indian pretending to be American, replacing real Americans with his kin?”
Others defended the H-1B program and foreign workers.
“If H-1Bs come legally, obey the law, and work hard, they’re Americans too,” one user posted. “Yes, more jobs should go to Americans, but I won’t fault anyone chasing the American dream.”
Another clarified that governors have no authority over the annual H-1B cap: “Vivek can’t increase visa numbers — that’s a federal issue.”
But critics countered that a governor can still shape hiring practices at the state level: “He may not control federal quotas, but he can certainly influence whether companies prioritize foreign hires over American citizens.”
Despite the online backlash, Ramaswamy has previously criticized the H-1B program himself, calling for significant reforms.
He’s labeled it “indentured servitude” and pushed for replacing the current lottery system with a merit-based model.
Ramaswamy, who exited the Republican presidential primary earlier this year, is now running for governor of Ohio.
His campaign has faced additional scrutiny following his controversial remarks about American culture, which some believe contributed to his earlier political setbacks.
