American Dream No More?
[Left] A protest in Atlanta against ICE raids. Across the nation, immigrants and their allies are organizing, advocating, and telling their stories—refusing to let their dreams or their contributions be erased. (Photo: Sandy Varghese)
Few immigrant groups have realized the American Dream as fully as Indians. Drawn by its promise of meritocracy and opportunity, they arrived in large numbers, built successful lives, and contributed far beyond their size. Now, under the Trump administration, that dream is unraveling. A wave of executive orders, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and aggressive enforcement seems to signal to non-white immigrants that they are no longer welcome. Sweeping ICE raids, fear-driven selfdeportations, attacks on citizenship, and erosion of due process have left many Indian immigrants, along with other migrant groups, feeling unwelcome and shaken.
Under the warmth of the Florida sunshine, surrounded by academic opportunity and a close-knit circle of friends, Jitendra Chowdhury* felt secure in his American life. As a third-year doctoral student in a STEM field at a public university, he excelled academically and was deeply connected to the local Bengali community. Twice a year, he traveled to India to visit his widowed mother, supporting his family and maintaining his roots. “Life in the United States was pretty good,” he says, beaming over a video call from India.
“Birthright citizenship has been settled constitutional law for more than a century. By denying lower courts the ability to enforce that right uniformly, the Court has invited chaos, inequality, and fear. This doesn’t just disrupt lives. It undermines the very idea that the law should apply equally to all,” says Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, CEO of Global Refuge, a nonprofit serving refugees. (Photo: Globalrefuge.org)
Then, in April, a single official email turned his life upside down.
Chowdhury was informed that his Student and Exchange Visitor Status (SEVIS) had been terminated and his visa revoked, on account of a criminal record—a traffic case that had been dismissed a year earlier. “I was stunned,” Chowdhury recalls. “I was asked to leave as soon as possible. ‘As soon as possible’ means, you know, pack up! I was really scared, because ICE was going around.” The fact that a dismissed case could be grounds for revocation left him shaken.
A Community in Crisis
The panic spreading across the country during Trump’s second term has forced a reckoning among Indians in America—about what it means to belong, to benefit, and to believe in this country. Since January, Trump has issued a series of executive orders: revoking visa status for international students, deploying the National Guard to communities protesting ICE raids, pulling federal funding from public media and organizations supporting DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and launching lawsuits against law firms representing causes he opposes.
The latest concern for Indian immigrants is Trump’s push to end birthright citizenship. In late June, the Supreme Court ruled to leave enforcement to lower courts, meaning each state could choose to follow Trump’s executive order—or not, if they choose to rule it unconstitutional. This paves the way for a dangerous “patchwork of rights,” where a child’s citizenship may depend on the judicial district in which they’re born, according to Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, CEO of Global Refuge, a nonprofit serving refugees since World War II.
[Left] “Inciting fear and prompting students to self-deport rather than risk ICE detention is exactly what Trump wants. This administration is staffed by nativists, know-nothings, and nationalists who do not want non-white people in the United States. This is entirely predictable,” says prominent immigration attorney Charles Kuck. (Photo: https://immigration.net/)
“This is a deeply troubling moment not only for immigrant families, but for the legal uniformity that underpins our Constitution,” Vignarajah stated in a press release. “By denying lower courts the ability to enforce that right uniformly, the Court has invited chaos, inequality, and fear. This doesn’t just disrupt lives. It undermines the very idea that the law should apply equally to all.” As of July 10, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in a class action lawsuit, effectively putting a temporary stop to the president’s executive order banning birthright citizenship.
The challenge to birthright citizenship has created anxiety among expectant Indian immigrants. Some, fearing the uncertainty, have reportedly requested scheduled C-sections after Trump’s initial executive order was issued in February. New Jersey-based OB-GYN Dr. S. D. Rama told the Times of India that she had noticed an uptick in Indian parents requesting C-sections earlier than their due date, out of uncertainty over how the policy would be enforced.
Their alarm is warranted. ICE raids have become more erratic and aggressive. Since January, roughly 25,000 immigrants have been arrested by ICE, with some detained in facilities thousands of miles from their homes or even transported abroad on the pretext of criminal activity. When ICE raids were met with protests, such as in Los Angeles, Trump escalated the executive action by deploying the National Guard. Yet, 72 percent of immigrants detained by ICE have no criminal record, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
Indian Students in Panic
Jitendra Chowdhury, it turns out, is just one among thousands of students who have faced the worst impact. Indians represent the largest share of international students in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security has revoked more than 1,600 student visas for all nationalities and terminated the SEVIS records of over 4,700 international students without providing notice or due process, according to the South Asian American Working Policy Group. The American Immigration Lawyers Association reports that 50 percent of SEVIS termination cases involve Indian nationals.
[Right] Atlanta-based business immigration attorney, Anita Ninan, says, “We’re seeing delays in consular decisions and dramatic increases in processing times for labor certifications and immigrant visa petitions—the lifeblood of Indian immigrants staying beyond the six years of an H1B.” (Photo: https://www.ninanlegal.com/)
Inciting fear and prompting students to self-deport rather than risk ICE detention is exactly what Trump wants, says Atlanta-based immigration attorney Charles Kuck, adding, “This administration is staffed by nativists, know-nothings, and nationalists who do not want non-white people in the United States. This is entirely predictable.”
Kuck led a successful legal challenge to temporarily reinstate visa status for 133 international students whose status was revoked without due process.
Now, the Trump administration has implemented measures to stop issuing student visas to international students altogether—a move Kuck says is within the federal government’s legal purview. Blocking student visas is a direct reaction to Harvard University’s challenge to Trump’s threat to pull university funding. “The visa issuance process is basically off limits to litigation,” Kuck explains. “Issuing a visa falls under foreign policy, so the courts have no jurisdiction to challenge the criteria. Creating new criteria for students is completely within the U.S. government’s right. Anyone following Trump knew this was coming. None of this is a surprise to immigration lawyers.”
[Left] “I do think some of these policies are necessary, especially rolling back DEI. Let’s go back to meritocracy. His policies are good, but some are badly executed, that’s all,” says Narendar Reddy, a long-time fundraiser for the Republican Party.
Kartikeyan Nataraj*, who has worked in American public universities for more than 30 years—and voted for Trump on economic and social issues—agrees that Trump’s attacks on academic institutions are unprecedented and detrimental to America’s standing as an academic beacon. “What made America great is that it was a haven for intellectuals,” Nataraj says. “I regret voting for him. The regret is that this guy is going extreme, not even consulting Congress.” Nataraj, who was weary of the Democrats’ focus on DEI, didn’t expect this level of extremism.
Students are not the only group affected. Anita Ninan, principal attorney at Atlanta-based Ninan Legal, says, “Green card applicants can no longer use the interview waiver, which adds to wait times. We’re seeing delays in consular decisions and dramatic increases in processing times for labor certifications and immigrant visa petitions—the lifeblood of Indian immigrants staying beyond the six years of an H1B.”
Regretful Trump Voters
Nataraj, like many Trump voters, is recognizing that his trust in him was misplaced.
“They are targeting intellectuals and centers of learning. That’s one of the worst things that can happen for progress. This is a regression of what made America great.” He hopes lawmakers will reverse these extreme measures after the midterms.
When physician George Kizhakkayil* voted for Trump, he had hoped for economic growth and a reduction in U.S. military activity. At the time, he was concerned about the American involvement in Ukraine and Gaza. “I was looking for change, but nothing really happened on those major issues,” Kizhakkayil says. Instead, he got a president whose unpredictable foreign policy resulted in the bombing of Iran, sweeping tariffs that triggered trade wars and a global market crash, and a record number of executive orders signed in the first 100 days—marking unprecedented presidential overreach.
While Kizhakkayil doesn’t completely regret his vote, he concedes that the president “kinda sucks.” “I feel the government is so corrupt now, you grow to accept it. The only power I have is to vote. I didn’t like the last administration, so I voted to change it. In 3.5 years, I’ll do the same thing.”
[Right] Ani Agnihotri, chair of USA India Business Summit, states that many companies affected by tariffs and immigration policies have put projects on hold.
Thomas Madhvappallil, a professor of social work at California State University, says the fact that so many people voted for Trump to improve their own wealth “says a lot about the state of the country.” Within his community, there are two types of Indian-American voters: affluent doctors and businesspeople who voted for Trump on economic policy and against DEI, and mid-to-lower income voters and academics who could not support Trump’s ideology.
“Even those who voted for him say, ‘He is not presidential material, but look at him, he is doing something good.’ They fail to see the damage he has done to the social fabric and the very ideology upon which this country is based. The so-called American Dream is dead—forever,” Madhvappallil says.
Tariff Tirades
The executive order imposing widespread duties on international imports—including a 26 percent tariff on goods from India—came as a shock to Ani Agnihotri, co-founder and CEO of Marshall Automation America, Inc. The tariff on India has been scaled back to 10 percent as the two countries negotiate a trade agreement. Agnihotri, who also chairs the USA India Business Summit, says India is hopeful an agreement will be reached.
Already, Agnihotri says, the tariff has started impacting small businesses in the U.S. that rely on goods from India, as well as large businesses with factories that must plan supply chains six to twelve months
out. Agnihotri himself owns a small company that provides manufacturing services and products from India to U.S. clients.
Several companies have put projects on hold, which represents many companies affected by tariffs and immigration policies. According to Agnihotri, suppliers are stalling production of goods in anticipation of a tariff decision, meaning consumers should expect longer wait times on orders. Agnihotri agrees: “If you want something for this Christmas, you need to place orders 12 to 15 months in advance.”
“One of my clients has stalled placing orders while he awaits more clarity on tariffs,” Agnihotri says. His client, a light manufacturing company, sourced from China, Mexico, Vietnam, Costa Rica, and India, and received only 20 percent of orders in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. “Ambiguity is not good in international business. It’s a long chain of things which have to take place.”
Certain sectors—like dairy, high-end jewelry, and films—are especially affected. If the 26 percent tariffs against India hold, that’s the level of margin a small company operates on. “Someone ends up having to absorb the increase,” Agnihotri says. At an Atlanta Indian grocery chain in Atlanta, the wholesaler has so far absorbed the hike in duties on container ship-ments. Store manager Raj** says the chain has not yet passed on price increases to consumers, but if the 26 percent tariff holds, that may change.
[Left] Aparna Bhattacharyya, executive director at Raksha, a Georgia-based nonprofit serving South Asian victims of abuse, says about the funding cuts suffered by her organization, “It would be devastating to our organization. We may not be able to function or offer financial assistance to survivors,” she says. “There’s a lot of fear.”
Narendar Reddy, a long-time Republican fundraiser, says party constituents are less fearful than uncertain about what to expect, given the erratic policy implementation. “I do think some of these policies are necessary, especially rolling back DEI. Let’s go back to meritocracy,” Reddy says. “His policies are good, but some are badly executed, that’s all.”
Public Services Under Threat
Haphazardly instituted policies have left government, corporate, and nonprofit entities reeling with funding shortages and uncertainty. The cuts have left vulnerable populations—including veterans and women seeking financial independence and medical care—at greater risk.
Parul Mehta*, a rheumatology site director at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Florida, says drastic cutbacks have left patient-serving institutions struggling. Her facility experienced workforce terminations and early retirements among eligible VA employees. Cuts have focused on administrative and support staff. With fewer people now to handle routine tasks, Mehta says that patient care is delayed, and medical staff must cover additional duties. “Now we have nurses running around trying to find supplies or help coordinate, when they’re supposed to be doing nursing jobs. It basically slows everything down.” A hiring freeze means that veterans encounter bottlenecks in receiving care.
“I agree you should get rid of the bad eggs, but this is a slash-and-burn approach versus a surgical scalpel, which would make more sense,” Mehta says. “It seems like they don’t want to put the energy into doing it the right way. There’s a lot of impulsive, short-term decision-making, so morale is low. There’s too much uncertainty.”
Nonprofits Struggle to Survive
Aparna Bhattacharyya, executive director at Raksha—a Georgia-based nonprofit serving South Asian victims of abuse—says hiring and retaining specialized staff is becoming increasingly difficult. In April, the Department of Justice abruptly canceled more than $811 million in grants, impacting over 365 programs nationwide, including Raksha. The cuts eliminated funding for survivor services, safe transportation, meals, housing assistance, and community outreach. Bhattacharyya estimates the recent funding curtailments could result in a 20 percent budget loss. “It would be devastating to our organization. We may not be able to function or offer financial assistance to survivors,” she says. “There’s a lot of fear.”
Bhattacharyya says there is anxiety among South Asian immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals in working with law enforcement. “Why would a victim of human trafficking feel comfortable coming forward when that same agency is asking them to self-deport? It’s a really scary message and makes it difficult for people to report what they’re experiencing,” she says. Raksha is cautious about its partners as even service providers are now hesitant to help immigrants for fear of government retaliation. Applying for funding has become more challenging, as certification standards include vague and contradictory language requiring funding applicants to comply with federal anti- discrimination laws while certifying they don’t operate DEI programs, as federal agencies may terminate “equity-related” grants.
The threat to South Asian American identity has also come in the form of $1.5 million in national funding cuts for the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA).
SAADA Executive Director Samip Mallick says the federal grants were supporting programs that allowed community members to participate in SAADA’s work, such as a multi-year summer fellowship in community archives for undergraduate students, fellowships to preserve stories from healthcare workers and other frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and an in-person summit for South Asian youth interested in art and archives.
[Right] “[People] fail to see the damage [Trump] has done to the social fabric and the very ideology upon which this country is based. The so-called American Dream is dead—forever,” says Thomas Madhvappallil, a professor of social work at California State University.
With the funding shortage, SAADA will have to lean more heavily on community donations, as evidenced by the organization’s recent call-out to donors to invest. Mallick says donor contributions are essential for keeping SAADA running, particularly because he has three new initiatives planned this year: a walking tour of Harlem highlighting South Asian and Black American connections; an intergenerational story- telling board game; and a paid opportunity for musicians and songwriters.
“SAADA is on the frontlines of defending the fullness of the American story,” Mallick writes. “It is a story that includes all of us. And we are more committed than ever to ensuring that our community’s stories will not be erased.”
As Indian Americans and other immigrant communities navigate this new era of uncertainty, many are left questioning their place in a country they have long called home. The unraveling of long-held protections and opportunities has forced a reckoning not just with policy, but with the very idea of what it means to be American. Yet, even as fear and instability grow, so does resilience and determination. Across the nation, immigrants and their allies are organizing, advocating, and telling their stories—refusing to let their dreams or their contributions be erased.
(* = Name changed to protect identity.)
Amritha Alladi Joseph is a success strategist at Salesforce and a former reporter for Gannett newspapers, The Hindu, The Gainesville Sun, Gainesville Magazine, and CNN-IBN. She continues to pursue her passion for journalism as a freelance contributor.
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
