NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington DC, May 16, 2026— Eric Schmitt, a Republican senator from Missouri, has sparked controversy after dragging Hyderabad’s famed Chilkur Balaji Temple—popularly known among devotees as the “Visa Temple”—into America’s increasingly heated debate over H-1B visas and employment-based immigration.
In a series of posts on X this week, Schmitt, a vocal critic of skilled worker visa programs, accused the U.S. immigration system of favoring foreign workers over American graduates. He described what he called a global “Visa Cartel,” alleging that programs such as H-1B, L-1, F-1, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) have depressed wages and displaced American workers.
One post drew particular backlash after Schmitt shared an image of the Hyderabad temple and wrote: “The ‘Visa Cartel’ has its own ‘Visa Temple’ in Hyderabad, which sees thousands of Indians circling altars and getting passports blessed for U.S. work visas. American workers shouldn’t have to compete against a system this gamed.”
The remarks quickly triggered criticism on social media, with many Indian Americans and others accusing the senator of mocking a Hindu place of worship while politicizing immigration.
The temple, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad in India’s Telangana state, has for decades drawn students, IT professionals, and families who pray before visa interviews or overseas travel. Devotees traditionally perform 11 circumambulations while making a wish and return for 108 more after the wish is fulfilled. The temple does not accept donations and is widely seen as a symbol of faith rather than any official part of the visa process.
Schmitt’s comments come as immigration once again becomes a flashpoint in Washington, with President Donald Trump and Republican allies pushing for stricter immigration enforcement ahead of broader policy fights over employment visas and foreign student programs.
Schmitt has long opposed the H-1B program, arguing that large technology companies use it to bring in lower-cost foreign labor. In his latest posts, he also alleged that foreign workers and students—many of them from India—benefit from what he called unfair hiring pipelines, though he did not present evidence directly linking the temple to visa fraud.
The "Visa Cartel" has its own “Visa Temple” in Hyderabad, which sees thousands of Indians circling altars and getting passports blessed for U.S. work visas.
— Senator Eric Schmitt (@SenEricSchmitt) May 13, 2026
American workers shouldn’t have to compete against a system this gamed. pic.twitter.com/k7wSlECTJ6
