US Senator Eric Schmitt, a strong critic of the H-1B visa programme and Optional Practical Training (OPT), has triggered outrage among Indians after dragging Hyderabad’s famous Chilkur Balaji temple into his latest attack on alleged visa fraud.
In a post targeting what he called a global “visa cartel,” Schmitt said American workers should not have to compete against a system that is “this gamed” and even has “a cartel and a temple.”
His remark was seen by many Indians as an attack on the Chilkur Balaji temple, popularly known as the “Visa Temple,” where thousands of devotees pray for success in obtaining US visas.
Schmitt’s latest comments drew from several sources, including a GB News documentary on H-1B visas and a lawsuit filed by a Chinese-American professor against Texas’ Southern Methodist University. The lawsuit alleged that an Indian-origin department head favoured Indians in tenure-related matters.
“Big tech companies have laid off thousands of US workers while filling thousands of H-1B requests for identical roles. 82% of those foreign hires came in below median wages. Billions now flow to India for AI training instead, subsidized by Americans,” Schmitt wrote.
He alleged that this was part of a global “visa cartel,” claiming that networks recruit workers overseas, file petitions, submit false resumes and treat workers like “cattle.” He further alleged that shell companies and kickback schemes were being used to push cheap, visa-dependent labour into American jobs while US workers were being ignored.
Schmitt also targeted L-1 visas, saying they had become a major business for the alleged cartel and that applications were growing.
He then criticised F-1 student visas and OPT, calling them a “silent job killer.” According to him, foreign students, with Indians accounting for a large share, receive taxpayer-subsidised work permits while corporations benefit from relaxed wage rules and payroll tax exemptions.
He claimed that these students later move into H-1B visas and green card queues, forcing American graduates with debt to compete against cheaper labour.
Referring to Chilkur Balaji temple, Schmitt wrote that the “Visa Cartel” has its own “Visa Temple” in Hyderabad, where thousands of Indians circle altars and get passports blessed for US work visas.
His comments drew sharp criticism from Indian users on social media, who accused him of mocking religious faith and targeting Hindus and Indians.
Many questioned how praying at a temple for a visa was different from Christians praying in a church for personal wishes.
“I can’t believe a sitting US senator is so racist and bigoted to instigate hate against a community, Hindus and Indians,” one user wrote.
Another reacted, “Is this any different from Christians praying for their dear wishes? When the US visa wait time is so long and H-1B workers are slogging away to make America great, the simplest action is to pray.”
A third user asked, “If someone goes and prays in a temple, does that make the visa officer stamp the visa? Is there a direct connection from the temple to the US consulate?”
Chilkur Balaji temple, located near Hyderabad in Telangana, is widely known as the “Visa Temple” because many devotees visit it with hopes of securing visas, especially to the United States. But Schmitt’s attempt to link the temple with an alleged visa cartel has triggered anger, with many calling it unnecessary, insensitive and discriminatory.
