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Tech leader Kanwal Rekhi voices concern over U.S. reception
He mentioned that the current climate around immigration and skilled talent is troubling, especially for Indians.
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Rwittika Chakraborty
- Wed, 04, Feb 2026
- 05:30 EST
- 19
Indian-American businessman Kanwal Singh Rekhi. / LinkedIn/@Kanwal Rekhi
Indian-American businessman Kanwal Singh Rekhi, who became the first Indian-American to take a company public in Silicon Valley, expressed his concerns about the future of the United States amid the evolving attitude toward immigrant talent.
Rekhi, who has backed more than 100 startups and helped launch new technology ventures over decades, said that while the country once welcomed skilled workers, it now sends mixed signals about their future prospects.
ALSO READ: Kiran Desai calls immigration fear a wake-up call for Indians
He mentioned the current climate around immigration and skilled talent is troubling, especially for Indians who have played a deep role in building the American tech ecosystem.
Rekhi further shared that when he first arrived in the United States, Indian professionals were actively sought after and welcomed, not out of charity, but because American firms needed global talent to grow.
Addressing the current situation, Rekhi said that sentiment appears to be shifting amid heightened political rhetoric around immigration and visa policies, warning future Indian immigrants that the U.S. is no longer welcoming towards them.
His comments come at a time when skilled immigration, particularly involving Indian professionals on H‑1B work visas, has become a contentious issue in U.S. policy debates.
Rekhi’s warning underscores broader issues within the international entrepreneur community about the United States’ future role as a magnet for global talent, a reputation that has historically drawn skilled workers and founders from around the world, particularly from India.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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