Indian Rep. Thanedar Wants More Migrants in His Poor District

India-born Representative Shrinivas Thanedar, who represents Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, made the remarks during a May 28 gathering of business leaders at the Mackinac Island resort in northern Michigan, according to Breitbart News.

The congressman told assembled executives that businesses in his area lack sufficient access to both skilled and unskilled foreign labor through programs like the H-2B seasonal worker visa. He characterized current immigration policy as insufficient for business needs and warned that what he described as anti-immigrant sentiment in Washington threatens economic growth and national GDP.

Thanedar’s vocal support for expanded foreign worker access may resonate with resort, hotel, and restaurant owners who utilize the H-2B program to fill seasonal positions. However, the stance appears at odds with the economic interests of his overwhelmingly poor and minority constituents, as Breitbart News reports.

The 13th District ranks as the second-poorest congressional district in the United States. Its population is 42 percent black, 38 percent white, and three percent Asian, with half of all households earning less than 51,000 dollars annually, according to census data.

Thanedar faces a Democratic primary challenge from Michigan Representative Donavan McKinney, whose district demographics suggest immigration policy could become a contentious issue.

Recent polling indicates significant skepticism toward immigration among Michigan residents. A May survey of 1,456 state residents conducted by TIPP for the League of American Workers found that only 19 percent view migration as beneficial for Michigan, while 35 percent consider it harmful.

Among the 322 black and Hispanic respondents included in the poll, 20 percent said immigration benefits the state, 27 percent said it harms the state, and 39 percent reported it makes little difference.

The congressman has consistently championed expanded immigration pathways for Indian nationals specifically, particularly through the H-1B white-collar visa program. He told the Mackinac audience that technology company executives face difficulty securing engineers and scientists, warning that America risks losing its innovation edge without access to foreign talent.

The H-1B program currently keeps roughly one million Indian workers in American jobs that would otherwise be filled by domestic professionals, as Breitbart News notes. The program has faced criticism for enabling corporate managers to replace American workers with mid-skill foreign workers, sometimes through salary arrangements that undercut prevailing wages.

Beyond white-collar programs, growing numbers of Indian nationals are entering blue-collar and seasonal work in the United States. Some arrive on B-1 and B-2 tourist visas and subsequently work illegally in positions ranging from seasonal tourism jobs in Michigan to trucking operations in California and service roles at franchise establishments, many managed by Indian visa holders.

Despite advocating for greater foreign worker access, Thanedar acknowledged challenges facing young Americans during his Mackinac remarks. He said access to the American dream appears to be diminishing, with young people unable to envision achieving a better life than their parents experienced.

McKinney, the primary challenger, has avoided taking clear public positions on immigration policy, likely seeking to sidestep conflict with pro-migration donors within the Democratic Party. He declined to respond to media inquiries on the subject.

His campaign website emphasizes his personal background and commitment to ensuring Washington invests in Michigan families, crediting his mother, grandmother, and surrounding community for supporting his career in public service despite limited resources.

With information from Breitbart News