A video of immigration attorney Sheela Murthy speaking at an ITServe Alliance event in Seattle has triggered a fierce political reaction, while a separate move by the United States government has paused immigration processing for people from 19 countries. The two developments are unrelated, yet both have intensified an already combustible national argument over migration, skilled visas and loyalty during Donald Trump’s second term.
The clip shows Murthy urging attendees to “kick the butt of Donald Trump, kick his ass really, let’s face it, kick him twice,” while defending immigrants and criticising anti-migration rhetoric. Her remarks appeared to be part of a wider attempt to rally H1B workers and staffing firms who feel targeted by proposed visa restrictions.
The video spread widely on X, amplified by conservative accounts and anti-H1B groups. Paul A. Szypula described her comments as a crime and demanded her arrest. Lawyers familiar with political speech say the language is crude but protected under the Brandenburg v. Ohio standard, which shields political hyperbole unless it encourages imminent violence.
The backlash prompted statements from across the political spectrum. Ajay Jain Bhutoria wrote, “As a proud Democrat, I fiercely disagree with Trump’s policies and actions, it’s our duty to call them out. But Sheela Murthy’s recent speech at ITServe Alliance crossed a line with hateful rhetoric that could incite violence against him. Disagree civilly; violence is NEVER the answer.” His intervention shows how the video has unsettled people beyond MAGA circles.
Expose H1B Fraud used the clip to renew its broader attack on the programme. “The Indian tech cartel is far more powerful and organized than Americans can ever imagine,” the account wrote. “This shows that H1B fraud is a coordinated attack on Americans.”
Earlier India’s foreign minister S. Jaishankar said European countries and America had allowed their businesses to leave and go to China, allowed manufacturing to go to China, and allowed their supply chain to be China dependent. They also allowed their companies to hire foreign workers and allowed foreign workers to come into their IT sectors. He argued that any perceived problems were not the fault of the workers who filled the roles, but with those who allowed that to happen.
Economists and immigration critics have joined the debate with fresh figures. Dr Dave Brat said, “71 percent of H-1B visas come from India. The national cap is 85,000, yet one Indian district got 220,000. That’s 2.5x the limit. When you hear H-1B, think of your family, because these fraudulent visas just stole their future.” His comments reflect worries about wage pressure and the structure of outsourcing networks.
Hany Girgis added another layer of criticism, writing, “Do you remember when Daniel DiMartino’s Manhattan Institute report claimed the U.S. could reduce the debt by 20 trillion by selecting ‘better’ immigrants? Today’s ITServe video shows: half their income remitted to India, offshore labour substitution, coordination with a foreign political chief. When that much money leaves the country, the multipliers evaporate. Might be time for a new report.” His comments feed into a long-running argument about remittances and domestic economic impact.
All of this is unfolding alongside a separate shift in US immigration policy. The government has paused immigration and naturalisation processing for people from 19 countries, a decision officials tied to the fatal shooting of two National Guard members in Washington. The suspect was reported to be Afghan.
A memo from US Citizenship and Immigration Services directs officers to place holds on all pending I-589 forms and to revisit earlier approvals covered by an existing presidential proclamation. The pause covers applicants from Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Iran, Haiti, Eritrea, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
The impact is already visible. A woman in Portland had her naturalisation ceremony cancelled with a brief portal update saying, “We will notify you by mail if the appointment is rescheduled, a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you.” Her family said staff gave no explanation and said they were not allowed to comment.
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