WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The appointment of Stephen Miller as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy has concerned many, particularly within the high-skilled immigrant community. Miller, one of the longtime architects of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration agenda, will have a major role in policies that affect H-1B visa holders—a program widely used by Indian nationals.

According to the figures of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Indian recipients dominated most of the H-1B visas that were issued in 2023 with more than 279,000 shares of Indian nationals visas and less in other countries, including China. In this respect, Indian professionals are a unique and critical source of supply for many U.S. industries that heavily depend on foreign talent, such as in technology and engineering sectors.

Miller has been influential on immigration policy, but he probably began picking up significant momentum when he teamed with Sen. Jeff Sessions to spearhead the 2015 Cruz-Sessions bill. That included robust restrictions on the H-1B visa program, which would mean most holders would have to spend at least 10 years abroad before returning to work in the U.S. Another legislative push sought to remove OPT from international students, a program that allows international students who have graduated from a college or university in the United States to gain practical experience in the United States.

Despite the severe criticism Miller continued to cling to his belief that there was indeed a thesis for visas on high-skilled people like the H-1B; they were only used to replace the American workers. This was one of the constant critiques from Miller regarding the tech companies and foreign talent-dependent industries where he often articulated that the system runs contrary to opportunities for U.S. jobs undercuts. Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff will oversee the much-needed immigration policies including border enforcement mass deportation, and further restrictions on legal immigration pathways.

While Miller’s official role puts him in charge of no government agency, his position will give him broad sway over departments which directly affect issues of immigration; namely, Homeland Security, Labor, and Justice. His job has already had implications across millions of immigrants, raising anxiety among groups that are always tipped to be loud advocates for high-skilled camps from India in particular.

As the debate on immigration reform heats up in the US, Millers’ attitudes on these issues will only spur further contentious changes to policy, which will affect future visa holders, businesses, and immigrants who rely on paths like the H-1B for professional growth.