Donald Trump's surprising victory in the US elections has raised concerns in India, particularly about immigration policies.
Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric during his campaign has left many Indians worried about potential changes affecting their ability to move to the US.
These concerns were reflected in a surge of Google searches for terms like "legal immigration," "H1B visa," and "US birth citizenship" on November 6, the day Trump was declared the winner.
In India, Google search trends revealed a dramatic increase in queries about legal immigration. The spike came from states like Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Kerala.
Many Indians also searched for related terms such as "Trump legal immigration," "legal immigration under Trump," and "Stephen Miller," referencing Trump’s longtime aide with a hardline stance on immigration.
With Miller’s return as Deputy Chief of Staff, visa rejections, especially for H1B visas—widely used by skilled Indian workers—are expected to rise.
Searches for "H1B visa" also peaked in India on the same day, with the most activity in Telangana, followed by Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
These searches were often accompanied by phrases like "Donald Trump H1B visa" and "US birth citizenship."
Trump’s victory has reignited debates on immigration, reproductive rights, and emigration, sparking both hope and anxiety among different groups in India and the US.