Donald Trump’s recent executive order ending birthright citizenship has sent shockwaves through immigrant communities, with Indian families facing the harshest consequences. Effective February 19, 2025, the policy denies automatic US citizenship to children born to parents on temporary visas—H-1Bs, H-4s, or student visas. Indians, who dominate the H-1B visas, are already entangled in decades-long green card backlogs. Now, their children will face a future of uncertainty, losing access to in-state tuition and federal financial aid while navigating legal limbo. The impact extends to lakhs of Indian students enrolled in US universities, who may rethink pursuing higher education in America. As India emerges as a global talent powerhouse, Trump’s move risks severing ties with one of America’s most crucial immigrant communities, raising the question: is the American Dream slipping away for Indian students?
Indian Footprint in US Education and Workforce: Numbers That Matter
The United States has long relied on Indian talent to drive its academic and economic engines, but the recent ban on birthright citizenship could undermine this critical relationship. Indian nationals represent a substantial share of both the US education and workforce sectors, making their contributions indispensable. However, the policy shift threatens to disrupt these dynamics, raising concerns about its long-term impact on both families and industries.
Workforce Powerhouse: Indian professionals dominate the H-1B visa program, comprising 70% of its holders, according to the American Immigration Council. These high-skilled workers are pivotal to sectors such as technology, healthcare, and engineering, addressing critical talent shortages in the US economy. Alongside them, the H-4 visa—a lifeline for dependents—plays a significant role in family stability. In 2019, 106,162 H-4 visas were granted to Indian nationals, as noted by the CATO Institute, underscoring their family-centric migration patterns. The birthright citizenship ban complicates this dynamic, leaving children of these workers in a precarious legal limbo.
Academic Heavyweights: Indian students are the second-largest group of international enrollees in US universities, with over 200,000 students in 2023, as reported by the Institute of International Education (IIE). These students contribute significantly to tuition revenues, especially at public universities, where international tuition often subsidizes other programs. Their impact extends beyond finances; they enrich academic environments and often transition into the workforce, bolstering the US economy. According to the Association of International Educators (NAFSA), international students, including Indians, contributed nearly $33.8 billion to the US economy during the 2021-2022 academic year, supporting over 335,000 jobs.
The birthright citizenship ban risks creating a chilling effect on these numbers. Families of H-1B visa holders may reconsider the U.S. as a destination for work and education, fearing long-term instability for their children. This potential exodus could exacerbate existing talent shortages, particularly in STEM fields, where Indian students and professionals are overrepresented. With the US already grappling with a projected 1.2 million tech worker shortage by 2026, as estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), policies that deter Indian talent may prove to be a self-inflicted wound on America’s global competitiveness.
Alternative Destinations for Indian Students
As the US tightens its immigration policies, countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK are becoming attractive alternatives for Indian students seeking higher education opportunities. These nations offer more favorable immigration policies and clearer pathways to permanent residency, making them increasingly popular among Indian families.
Canada: In 2024, Canada hosted 427,000 Indian students, solidifying its position as the top destination for Indian students globally. Indian nationals made up 37% of all study permits issued that year, with Indian students accounting for 41% of the total study permits in 2023, up from just 12% in 2014, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The country’s growth in Indian student enrollment is staggering, with a 31.6% increase in the 2022/2023 academic year alone, reaching 115,119 students. In addition, 195,000 study permits were processed and approved in 2022, marking a new record.
Australia: There have been fluctuations in Indian student enrollments in Australia too, over the years. In 2023, Australian universities enrolled 126,487 Indian students, marking a significant increase as Covid-19 restrictions eased. However, the trend has seen some decrease in 2024, with 118,109 Indian students enrolled, according to the Australian Department of Education. The numbers peaked in 2023 but dropped in 2024, reflecting both global events and evolving immigration policies.
These alternative destinations not only provide educational opportunities but also offer more predictable paths to permanent residency, making them appealing options for Indian students and their families looking for stability.