But you are Indian: Texas Republican leader calls for H-1B ban like Florida universities, social media asks him to 'go back'

Abraham George is not a Hindu like Vivek Ramaswamy, but he got a taste of his party’s hatred when the Indian-origin Republican leader called for a Florida-like ban on H-1Bs in Texas universities as well. George was born in India’s Kerala to Christian parents and came to the US when he was 16. As many equate H-1Bs with Indians, George was among the first to be asked to “go back to India.”

Texas has been seeing a surge in anti-India sentiment as influencers make videos claiming there has been an Indian takeover of the state. From social media influencers, the narrative entered the political realm when conservative leader Alexander Duncan questioned why there are so many Hindu temples in the state and called Hindu gods “false.” Recently, Aaron Reitz, who is contesting for Texas Attorney General, called Indians unassimilated and unassimilable and said he would stop H-1B abuses in Texas.






In October 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis asked universities to end the use of the H-1B visa program. The policy has now been finalized, with a vote on the proposed ban scheduled for January 29. The proposal calls for a one-year pause on hiring through the H-1B visa program. Florida state universities employ more than 600 workers on H-1B visas at present.

The H-1B visa program allows US companies — universities in this case — to hire skilled individuals from foreign countries. India has dominance in the IT sector, but many other nationals are hired in universities through the H-1B visa program.

Reacting to the Florida development, Texas GOP chairman Abraham George said, “Texas should follow this. We should just ban it altogether.”

“I’m already drafting bills for this,” Rep. Brent Money promptly replied to George.

But social media was not impressed. Users asked “ricebag” George to “go back” and told him that he is not even considered an American in Texas.

Who is Abraham George?

Though George was born and brought up in India, many of his family members were already in the US, including his grandfather. Stories about them planted in him a “deep admiration for America’s freedoms and opportunities,” his website said. His family started the US visa process when he was two, and they finally came to the US when he was 16.

Despite his strong academic potential, George went to work, starting as a janitor’s assistant at an IT manufacturing company. He rose through the ranks and became the national sales director by the age of 22, his website said.