Trump’s Donald J. Trump Visa Changes Spark Crisis for 134,000 Indian Children: Green Card Delays, Age-Out Risks, and DACA Rulings Explained
The American dream is turning into a nightmare for over 134,000 Indian children in the U.S. as Trump-era immigration policies collide with visa backlogs, green card delays, and a recent Texas court ruling on DACA. With H-1B visa reforms and revoked protections for dependents, families now face an uncertain future—and minors risk “aging out” of legal status before securing permanent residency.
Why H-1B Visa Holders Are in Crisis: Key Policy Changes
The H-1B visa, a lifeline for Indian professionals in tech, healthcare, and engineering, allows temporary U.S. work authorization. Under Trump’s second term, critical updates disrupted pathways to citizenship:
- Dependent Policy Revoked: Children of H-1B holders previously retained dependent status until parents secured green cards. Now, minors lose eligibility at 21, regardless of application progress.
- Green Card Backlogs: Per 2023 data, wait times for Indian applicants range from 12 to 100+ years due to per-country caps.
- DACA Work Permit Ban: A Texas court blocked new work permits for undocumented youth, stripping protections for those aging out of H-1B dependency.
Age-Out Crisis: 134,000 Indian Children Face Self-Deportation
Indian families account for 75% of employment-based green card applicants, but systemic delays have dire consequences:
- “Aging Out” at 21: Children lose dependent status even if parents applied for green cards years earlier.
- Forced Self-Deportation: Teens raised in the U.S. must return to India, a country they’ve never known.
- Education & Career Disruption: Students lose visas mid-degree, while graduates can’t legally work.
“My daughter turned 21 last month. We applied for her green card in 2010, but the backlog means she’s now undocumented,” shares Priya S., a Mumbai-born IT worker in Texas.
Texas Court Ruling on DACA:
What It Means for Indian Families
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program once shielded undocumented youth from deportation. However, a July 2025 Texas federal court ruling:
- Blocks work permits for new DACA applicants.
- Limits renewals for existing beneficiaries.
- Leaves aged-out H-1B dependents without legal safeguards.
Result: Over 21,000 Indian teens could lose residency rights by 2026, per Immigration Foundation estimates.
How the Green Card Backlog Traps Indian Families
The U.S. allocates only 140,000 employment-based green cards annually, with a 7% per-country cap. For India:
Applications Filed: 1.2 million (2023)
Annual Allotment: ~9,800
Wait Time: 134+ years for recent applicants (Cato Institute)
Without legislative reforms like the EAGLE Act (eliminating per-country caps), families remain in limbo.
What Can Affected Families Do?
- Monitor Priority Dates: Track visa bulletin updates via the USCIS portal.
- Explore Alternatives: Transition to F-1 student visas or EB-5 investor programs.
- Advocate for Reform: Support bills like the America’s Children Act to protect aged-out dependents.
Over 134,000 Indian children in the U.S. face an unprecedented legal crisis as Trump-era immigration policies clash with severe green card backlogs and restrictive age-out rules. Many of these minors, brought to America by H-1B visa-holding parents, risk losing their legal status upon turning 21—even if their families applied for permanent residency decades ago.
With wait times stretching beyond 100 years for Indian applicants due to per-country visa caps, coupled with a recent Texas court ruling blocking DACA work permits, teens raised in the U.S. now confront forced self-deportation to a country they’ve never known.
“We filed my son’s paperwork in 2012, but the backlog means he’ll age out before approval,” said Rohan Mehta, a tech worker in California. Advocates warn the crisis underscores systemic flaws in employment-based immigration, urging Congress to pass reforms before thousands more lose their legal foothold.
Table of Contents
Q1: Can children of H-1B holders stay in the U.S. after turning 21?
A: Only if they secure independent visas (e.g., F-1, H-1B).
Q2: Does the 2025 Texas ruling affect existing DACA recipients?
A: No, but renewals are paused pending Supreme Court review.
Q3: Are there lawsuits against the age-out policy?
A: Yes, Patel v. USCIS challenges green card delays for dependents.
