A US lawmaker’s comments about Indian workers at 7-Eleven stores have sparked controversy online, with reactions ranging from support for MAGA to criticism from progressives over his comments and personal relationships.Texas Congressman Brandon Gill is facing backlash after a video of him criticizing the hiring of Indian workers went viral on X. In the clip, Gill called the idea of bringing workers from India to fill jobs in the US “foolish” and “stupid.”“We don’t need to import 7-Eleven workers from India or anywhere around the world. Hire Americans,” he wrote while sharing the video.The statements were made during an appearance on The Benny Show, where Gill spoke about changing demographics in parts of Texas like Frisco.
He linked immigration, both legal and illegal, to competition for jobs and alleged abuse of the H-1B visa system. Referring to a viral video filmed inside a 7-Eleven store, he claimed that such instances indicate fraud, adding: “These things have to end at some point and I think that point is over now.
“The clip, which sparked controversy, was originally recorded by YouTube user Tyler Oliveira, and shows an Indian employee in a Texas store who said he was working in the United States on an H-1B visa and was from Andhra Pradesh.
Jill’s response sparked reactions online. “I don’t care if Brandon’s wife is half Indian. He’s literally the only guy in Congress who wants to go here. He didn’t have to say this, knew he would take fire from Indian enclaves in his district, but he still supports it. I’m pro-Brandon Gill,” one user wrote.However, many others criticized the congressman, pointing out that his wife, Danielle D’Souza Gill, is of Indian descent.
She is the daughter of MAGA ally and conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, who was born in Mumbai and later moved to the United States.One user said: “Really strange statement from a man who is married to an Indian woman, and whose family is Indian. He publicly preaches white nationalism, but in the bedroom, he’s a third worldist. The racist version of a closeted gay priest.” Despite the criticism, Gill remained steadfast in his stance on immigration. He has previously argued that legal immigration is not automatically beneficial and linked mass immigration to cultural and economic changes in the United States.
