Indian-American entrepreneur faces threats over H1-B visa debate, deletes post on X

Amidst the controversial debate over the H1-B visa program in the United States, Indian American entrepreneur Siddharth reported receiving personal threats from MAGA supporters. Siddharth, an active supporter of legal immigration, said his personal phone number had been leaked, prompting a wave of threatening messages. He later deleted a post on X (formerly Twitter) calling on MAGA influencers to stop the harassment.

Siddharth, who describes himself as a “high-skilled Indian immigrant,” is a technopreneur, investor and engineer who works with young Indian and American graduates to create jobs. In his since-deleted post, he wrote: “My personal phone number has been leaked and I am receiving personal threats. I am once again appealing to the big MAGA accounts to stop this onslaught of bots on me! I have a young family, and you are trying to harm my family.”

The threats against Siddharth coincide with broader tensions surrounding the H1-B visa program, which provides work permits to highly skilled foreign workers. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed support for the program despite backlash from his MAGA base. “I’ve always liked (H1-B) visas. I have always been in favor of visas; that’s why we have them,” Trump told the New York Post.

This comes amid allegations by MAGA influencers that tech mogul Elon Musk is censoring dissenting voices on X. Several prominent accounts have lost their blue verification badges — a premium feature that allows for monetization — after an online spat with Musk. Laura Loomer, a MAGA influencer, claimed that her posts were flagged as spam, further fueling resentment among the conservative base.

Amidst these controversies, Siddharth criticized selective censorship on social media platforms, writing on Twitter, “Selective cancellations are like fire alarms that only go off when someone they hate lights a candle but stays silent while their friends set fire and roast the whole thing. the building marshmallow”.

The H1-B visa program remains a controversial issue in the U.S., with debate over its impact on U.S. jobs and its role in fostering innovation. Trump’s recent comments in support of the program have further highlighted the divide between his traditional base and the tech industry.