Several Indian students studying in the US complained about the increased scrutiny from law enforcement agencies, with “officers in uniform” visiting their workplaces and demanding to see their students' IDs, reports NDTV.
For decades, the United States has been the land of endless possibilities for young Indian students seeking world-class education and high-paying career opportunities.
However, amid stringent immigration policies under President Donald Trump's administration, the American dream of many has become a challenging ordeal.
With visa rejection on the rise, increased scrutiny at workplaces and uncertainty over work permits under the Trump administration, many Indian students are forced to rethink their aspirations.
Over the last year, there has been a notable decline in the number of F-1 student visas issued by the United States to Indian students.
According to an analysis of US State Department data, 64,008 Indian students were granted visas from January to September 2024, which is a 38 per cent drop compared to 1,03,495 during the same period in 2023.
The figures marked the first significant decline after the surge in student enrollment following the pandemic. Students are also worried about the shrinking job market that now favours local hires with the new immigration system sidelining international students.
Students noted that since President Trump took office, his stress on localisation has made visa sponsorships by employers more difficult. "Jobs have become elusive. I never thought that things could turn this bad," Sai Aparna, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio told the media.
Ms. Aparna, who pursued a Master's in Information Systems in the US, has been actively looking for a job for the past year, but in vain.
Several Indian students studying in the US complained about the increased scrutiny from law enforcement agencies, with "officers in uniform" visiting their workplaces and demanding to see their students' IDs or check their work authorisation documents - in case they are on Optional Practical Training (OPT).
An OPT - initially issued for a period of one year post-college - allows students to work for the stipulated period. Those on F1 visas are allowed to work for just 20 hours a week at on-campus jobs. But, youngsters living away from home often breach this time and place cap to earn extra bucks.
The recent restrictions imposed on off-campus part-time jobs have hit a major chunk of the international students hard.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
