U.S. Favorability Toward India Slips as H-1B Debate Intensifies

According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, American sentiment toward India has dropped sharply, with just 45% expressing a favorable view compared with 50% who are unfavorable. This marks a decline from a 64% favorability rating in 2008 and a modest dip from 51% recorded in 2023. The poll highlights partisan and generational divides: Democrats and older adults are more likely to view India positively, whereas Republican-leaning younger voters are less favorable.

The erosion of goodwill occurs amid heightened public focus on the H-1B and related visa programs that bring roughly one million foreign contract workers, the majority from India, into U.S. white-collar positions. Critics cite concerns about wage suppression, corruption in the hiring pipeline, and the outflow of billions in remittances, while Indian-American groups such as the Indian American Advocacy Council have begun a PR campaign to document and counter hate incidents. Political figures, including Vice President JD Vance, are urging scrutiny of the visa system, reflecting a broader GOP push to limit the program despite President Donald Trump's trade stance toward India.