MIAMI, Fla. (Diya TV) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has criticized Senate Republicans for failing to restrict the H-1B visa program, a major pathway for Indian technology professionals seeking jobs in the United States. He also described the Republican Party’s losses in the Nov. 3 midterm elections as an “extinction-level event.”

DeSantis said Republican voters had lost confidence in their party because lawmakers failed to deliver on key campaign promises. He pointed to immigration policy as one of the areas where Republicans had made little progress despite holding power in Washington.

Speaking to Fox News host Laura Ingraham, DeSantis questioned why Senate Republicans had not taken stronger action on immigration. He specifically criticized the party for failing to restrict H-1B visas and advance other conservative policy priorities.

“Why haven’t we done immigration, shut off H-1B visas? Why haven’t we codified Trump’s immigration executive orders?” DeSantis said during the interview.

His remarks have drawn attention because the H-1B program plays an important role in the U.S. technology industry. It allows American employers to hire skilled foreign workers for specialized positions. Indian professionals represent a significant share of H-1B recipients, particularly in technology and engineering.

DeSantis argued that Senate Republicans had several opportunities to advance their immigration agenda but failed to use them.

He also questioned why senators had not eliminated the legislative filibuster. The rule generally requires 60 votes to advance most legislation in the Senate. According to DeSantis, changing the rule could have allowed Republicans to pursue more conservative policies with a simple majority.

Furthermore, he criticized lawmakers for not taking steps to limit federal court involvement in deportation cases.

“There are so many things that could have been done; they didn’t even attempt it,” DeSantis said.

His comments reflect growing disagreements within the Republican Party over immigration policy and legislative priorities. While Republicans have repeatedly promised stricter immigration controls, disagreements over strategy and Senate rules have limited their ability to advance certain proposals.

DeSantis’ call to shut off H-1B visas has placed the employment-based immigration program back in the political spotlight.

The H-1B visa allows U.S. companies to employ foreign professionals in specialized occupations. Technology companies often rely on the program to recruit workers with skills in software development, engineering, and other technical fields.

Indian nationals account for a large portion of H-1B workers. As a result, changes to the program could affect thousands of Indian professionals, technology companies, and families planning to work or settle in the United States.

However, DeSantis did not outline a detailed proposal for ending the program during his remarks. Instead, he used the issue to highlight what he viewed as the Republican Party’s failure to fulfill its immigration promises.

His criticism also comes amid wider political debates over foreign workers, American employment, and immigration restrictions.

Beyond immigration, DeSantis blamed Republican leaders in Washington for the party’s poor election performance.

He described the Nov. 3 results as a rejection of both President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. He said Democrats benefited because voters had become dissatisfied with the Republican leadership.

At a Florida news conference on Nov. 4, DeSantis called the outcome “close to an extinction-level event for Republicans in many parts of the country.”

He added that the results reflected voter frustration rather than strong support for Democratic policies.

“This was not a positive view of the Democrats. This was a rejection of Republicans in Washington and Democrats just happened to be the beneficiary,” he said.

DeSantis also argued that many Republican voters stayed home instead of supporting their party. He attributed their decision to frustration over the lack of legislative progress.

According to him, the responsibility rests with both the White House and Congress, rather than with one political institution alone.

DeSantis also pointed to Republican defeats in Texas, which he described as the “crown jewel of Republican politics.”

He said the party’s losses in the state raised serious concerns about its national political future. Republicans suffered defeats in a high-profile Senate race, the governor’s race and the attorney general’s contest, along with other statewide elections.

“If the Republican Party doesn’t have Texas as an anchor, then we’re not gonna be viable nationally going forward,” he said.

The election results marked a major setback for Republicans. Democrats are set to take control of both the House and Senate in January.