According to the 2025 Survey of Immigrants, which was carried out by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) in partnership with The New York Times, 22% of immigrants claim to personally know someone who has been arrested, detained, or deported on immigration-related grounds since Trump took office in January, amid increased H-1B visa fees and the Trump administration’s stepped-up immigration crackdown.
Key Findings From the KFF–New York Times Survey
The majority of those who know someone impacted claim that the person did not commit a severe crime. Simultaneously, 41% of immigrants express concern that they or a family member may be arrested or deported, a significant rise from 26% in 2023.
Rising Fear Across Immigration Categories
According to the KFF study, these fears have increased most among legally present immigrants (from 33% to 50%) and naturalized Americans (from 12% to 31%), but they are still greatest among potential illegal immigrants (75%).
According to the study, over half of immigrants (53%)—including the majority of both naturalized citizens and legally present immigrants—do not believe that they or a family member would get fair treatment from the U.S. court system if jailed on immigration-related charges.
Changes in Travel Behavior Due to Enforcement Fears
In order to escape attention from immigration officials, almost three out of ten immigrants reported canceling their vacation plans. According to the KFF poll, 63% of illegal immigrants reported avoiding both local and foreign travel due to fear.
But concern went beyond this demographic; according to 32% of H-1B visa holders and 15% of naturalized Americans, they avoided traveling.
H-1B Visa Dispute and Policy Shift
The Department of Homeland Security said in December 2025 that a weighted selection mechanism favoring higher-paid and more highly educated candidates will take the place of the conventional random lottery used to distribute H-1B visas.
Implementation Timeline and Policy Intent
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the final rule, which will apply to the next H-1B cap registration cycle and go into effect on February 27, 2026.
A crucial component of employment-based immigration is the H-1B visa program, which allows American businesses to hire highly qualified foreign workers for specialized positions.
Cost Increases and Broader Immigration Impact
Trump issued a proclamation increasing application costs in September, claiming that the action was meant to stop program abuses that he believes hurt American workers.
The strategy represents a significant shift from the conventional immigration policy of the United States. People from many different countries and socioeconomic backgrounds have come to the country since its foundation in search of more freedom and opportunity.
Impact of Rising H-1B Costs on India
An increase in H-1B visa costs severely affects India
Since Indians have benefited most from the H-1B visa program, the move also has a significant impact on India in addition to US IT enterprises.
Uncertainty for Indian Professionals and Companies
Many Indian professionals working in US tech, finance, health care, and other industries have become uneasy due to the ongoing unpredictability, in addition to the additional expenses that Indian IT companies will incur for thousands of workers on such visas. This is especially true in light of the recent mass postponement of work-visa appointments.
Top Corporate Users of H-1B Visas
H-1B visas are mostly used in the technology sector and are granted via a lottery method. According to the US government, the corporations with the most H-1B visas are Amazon, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Microsoft, Meta Platforms Inc., and Apple Inc.
Ongoing Enforcement and Industry Adjustment
22% of immigrants claim to personally know someone who has been arrested, detained, or deported on immigration-related grounds since Trump took office, despite increased H-1B visa costs and the Trump administration’s stepped-up immigration enforcement.
As political currents change, the IT sector has been adjusting to changes in US immigration regulations for some time.
