Pollster Mark Mitchell’s proposal for “de-Indianisation” is not a serious economic strategy; it’s a xenophobic fantasy that directly threatens the engine of American innovation. This idea ignores history, statistics, and basic economics.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Nativism’s Predictable Amnesia
The critique of Indian talent is a hypocritical cycle of nativism. The US was built by waves of immigrants—from the Pilgrims to the Italians and Irish—who were once branded as threats before becoming the backbone of the nation. Mitchell’s rhetoric simply revives this historical amnesia, attempting to pull up the ladder of opportunity from the latest successful group.
The Tax and Tech Engine
Far from being “cogs,” Indian-Americans are architects of the modern US economy. Though they constitute only 1.5% of the population, their economic footprint is massive:
- Corporate Leadership: Indian-origin individuals lead 16 Fortune 500 companies, controlling nearly $1 trillion in collective revenue.
- Startup Creation: They are the leading immigrant founders of US unicorn startups, creating wealth and tens of thousands of jobs.
- Fiscal Power: They contribute an estimated $250 billion to $300 billion in income taxes annually—a crucial 5-6% of the national total.
Dismantling this presence means crippling the leadership structures of tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Adobe.
The Self-Inflicted Wound
Mitchell’s plan is not only wrong but obsolete. US visa restrictions already act as a talent repellent, forcing American companies to shift jobs and innovation abroad (particularly to India and Canada). Furthermore, market forces have already curtailed the perceived H-1B “abuse.” Indian IT firms have seen a 70% decline in visa approvals since 2015, with US tech giants now dominating the higher-wage H-1B category.
The US economy needs pragmatic policy focused on talent retention, not a consultancy selling protectionist panic. India, meanwhile, should seize this opportunity by redirecting this immense talent pool back to its own shores, proving that American dreams increasingly thrive on global, not localized, brilliance.
