Free Republic

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 33-year-old Shreya Mishra Reddy, a technical program manager at Visa based in Austin. Business Insider has verified Reddy's employment, immigration status, and unsuccessful H-1B attempts. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I never dreamed of living in the US. I grew up in India and wanted to stay close to my parents. In December 2021, I moved to the States for a Master's program in engineering management at Duke University. After I graduated in 2022, I got a job at Visa as a technical program manager in 2023....

Deborah Fleischaker worked for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE under President Biden. Fleischaker witnessed the Trump administration make changes to immigration guidelines she worked on. She said she's feels that federal workers are being vilified and finds it sad to watch. This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with 52-year-old Deborah Fleischaker, from Washington, D.C. The following has been edited for length and clarity. On election night, I knew I was out of a job. I'd been working for the Department of Homeland Security as a political appointee under the Biden administration. I was hopeful about...