Our last event of the semester is beginning with @AmyBhatt in the @UMBCLibrary. A recording will be made available on our @YouTube channel!
Bhatt: I began this project in 2008 while as a graduate student in Seattle. I wanted to work with the feminist community outside of campus. #humforum18
Bhatt: The H1-B visa program is the descendant of the Bracero program. Indiana are the second largest inmigrant group and mostly men through this program. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracero_p… 
The H-4 visa program was created to allow spouses of H1-B visa holders to join them in the US. Bhatt’s book looks at how this programs influences not only the global economy, but also how non-wage earners - “housewives” - impact the broader economy. #humforum18
Bhatt: Far from being just housewives, these provided great economic and social value through their housework and work in their communities. #humforum18
Bhatt: Between 2008-2015, I interviwed over 100 Seattle-based H-1B and H-4 visa holders. It became clear that the story of their migration did not just end with their arrivale in the US. Rather it continued as they often moved back and forth between the US and India. #humforum18
Bhatt: Many high-tech housewives are often highly educated, but are viewed as dependent housewives upon migration due to their inability to work through the visa process. #humforum18
Bhatt: Rule changes during the Obama administration allowed for some visa holders to work while they go through the green card process. But the current administrations “Buy American and Hire American” executive order seeks to put an end to that. #humforum18
Bhatt: Current pushes for merit-based immigration has caused some Indian immigrants and H-1B visa holders to rally in support of Trump’s immigration agenda: support of a wall, preference for DALCA over DACA, etc. #humforum18
Bhatt: While the majority of DACA recipients are from Latinx countries, South Asian immigrants consist of nearly 3% of recipients and are one of the largest growing immigrant populations. #humforum18
Bhatt: There is growing division in the South Asian community between those who are skilled labor migrants and working-class migrants. #humforum18
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