Indian Immigrants in US Curtail Travel Amid Heightened Visa Scrutiny

A growing number of Indian immigrants in the United States, many holding H-1B skilled-worker visas, are choosing to “stay locked up at home” and avoid travel both domestic and international due to fears of intensified immigration enforcement and visa processing delays under the second Trump administration.

According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) in partnership with The New York Times, nearly 27% of all U.S. immigrants roughly three in ten have deliberately avoided traveling within or outside the country to evade attention from immigration authorities. The fear is particularly acute among H-1B visa holders, with 32% reporting curtailed travel plans, while even 15% of naturalized U.S. citizens have altered their movements despite full legal protections.

Indian nationals, who account for over 70% of H-1B visa recipients in recent years, are disproportionately affected. Immigration attorneys report that many professionals are canceling holiday trips, family visits, and even domestic flights, citing concerns over data-sharing between agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The KFF/NYT survey, fielded from August to October 2025, also found broader impacts: about one in ten immigrants avoided medical care or community events due to enforcement fears. Among likely undocumented immigrants, the figure for avoiding travel rose to 63%.

Critics argue these measures disrupt families and industries reliant on skilled talent, while supporters say they protect American workers from perceived program abuses.

India has raised diplomatic concerns over stranded nationals, but the U.S. State Department maintains the changes enhance security and program integrity.