Indian-American voices reflect on America's duality of hope and doubt as it celebrates its 250th anniversary amid rising anxieties.
Washington DC, United States Jul 3, 2026 ALN: Across business, medicine, academia, technology, and public life, Indian Americans are one of America’s most visible immigrant success stories. But today, there’s unease. Indian festivals have recently been facing hostility. Long green card backlogs, uncertainty over the H-1B visa, and a rise in anti-Indian hate have deepened anxieties. The Carnegie Endowment’s 2026 survey describes the community as going through a period of “turbulence”, with roughly 40% saying they have considered leaving the United States. As America marks 250 years of independence, anxiety coexists with an enduring faith in American opportunity. Six prominent members of the community weigh in:
For the first time, Indian Americans have become the target of hatred and resentment. This is coming from both extreme left and extreme right, so I would not say the situation is great.
Moreover, America is closing its doors to the people who have helped it maintain its global lead. Regardless, the country will reinvent itself as it always does.
America has huge potential, and it is a very merit-based economy that gives opportunities to everybody. I think the best part of America is its ability to attract and retain top scientists, educators, and management leaders. Despite the negative news you may hear, people experience a great deal of personal freedom here. They feel empowered to pursue their goals and celebrate their cultural traditions while still being part of American society.
America is a land of immigrants, and that is what fuels new ideas, new technologies, and continued innovation. The one expectation is that you work hard. Across professions — whether you are an educator, scientist, medical doctor, lawyer, or in any other occupation — hard work and education are highly valued. The community is well integrated rather than isolated.
As someone who works to end gender-based violence in our communities, I know that a sense of belonging isn’t just symbolic for survivors of violence. It has real consequences for people’s safety. When communities feel unwelcome or afraid, survivors are often less likely to seek help, trust institutions, or access the support they need.
There is a paradox in loving a country while knowing it has not fully embraced you. We love this country not because it has always lived up to its ideals, but because we believe it can. And because we know her complexity. There are immigrant enclaves where community leaders are cultivating joy, creativity, and safety in resistance to our current climate. And that’s the America we love — one where every community can live with dignity, safety, and the opportunity to thrive.
I’m certain my parents imagined a different America. My father, a renowned statistician, accepted a job at Florida State University in the 1970s. Like many Indian immigrants of his generation, he saw America as a place where hard work and merit would matter. In many ways, that promise was fulfilled. But America has always been more complicated than the ideal they embraced.
I don’t think my parents ever imagined an America that did not welcome immigrants. Or an America that did not embrace multiculturalism and diversity. Politics [today] has most definitely changed everyday life, though perhaps less in dramatic ways than in subtle ones. As a journalist and educator, I’ve watched trust erode, conversations become more polarised, and facts become contested.
As America turns 250, the question that looms for me is: can a nation truly celebrate its history if it isn’t willing to confront all of it? Because it seems that the current administration is not willing to embrace the stories of people who have been marginalised or forgotten or erased. Or the stories of immigrants like me. But I believe the pendulum will swing the other way again one day. I have to remain optimistic. Otherwise, the dreams that my family carried with them to America don’t have a chance of surviving.
As the Supreme Court, the President of the United States, and Republican legislators continue to gut our basic civil and human rights, on this nation’s 250th anniversary, I’m thinking about rebirth, renewal and reinvention. I’m envisioning, and working towards, an anti-capitalist, anti-war, anti-genocide, and anti-fascist future. I’m supporting leaders who want universal healthcare, living wages, affordable childcare and housing, as well as funding for community programmes.
As a longtime activist, U.S.-born mother of three, this anniversary is a reminder to me that where we are as a country today is not a measure of what we can achieve tomorrow. I’m excited, even hopeful in this moment. More and more Americans have decided that enough is enough, that we need to invest in people instead of PACs [Political Action Committees], corporations, billionaires, propaganda, and a derelict two-party system. Our resistance to the status quo is strong, and it’s only getting stronger.
I came to America five decades ago with a suitcase and a student visa. Only in this country could a foreign student return as the commencement speaker at his alma mater.
Only in America could an immigrant become a citizen and later have the privilege of welcoming other new citizens at a presidential library. America gave me opportunity, purpose, family, and the chance not only to live the American dream, but to contribute to it in return.
We have fought as a country to realise the ideals of the founders 250 years ago, and though we still have a long way to go, we have made considerable progress towards establishing a more perfect union. Just a few days ago, we were reminded of this progress when the Supreme Court affirmed birthright citizenship despite the Trump administration’s attempts to revoke this constitutional right.
I am so proud of my country, which allows people of diverse backgrounds to flourish, share, and accomplish great things together. It is why we are a beacon of ideals such as free speech and democracy, the ’s leader in Artificial Intelligence and technology, and a destination for immigrants from around the .
I was born in Uganda, lived in England, and have proudly called America home for more than 35 years. During that time, I have watched this nation evolve, mature, and become one of the most diverse countries in the . While much of what people see on television and social media focuses on division, politics, and negativity, that is not the America I experience every day.
The people of this country are welcoming, hard-working, and far more accepting of different cultures than many around the realise. America’s greatest strength has always been its Constitution and the rule of law. Even during times of political disagreement, our institutions continue to demonstrate the resilience of our democracy and the freedoms that make this country unique.
One of the most exciting moments this year is hosting the FIFA Cup. Millions of people from every corner of the globe are watching America — not just the games, but our communities and our culture. We are welcoming visitors from every race, religion, and nationality. Football (soccer) has become a wonderful symbol of unity.
As America celebrates 250 years of independence, I hope we remember that our greatest strength has always been our diversity. People from around the have come here seeking opportunity, and through hard work they have helped build one of the greatest nations in history.
The writer is an Atlanta-based journalist and USC Annenberg Fellow for Writing and Community Storytelling.
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