Mehdi Hasan counters Nikki Haley’s son over U.S. migration history

(UNITED STATES) Nalin Haley, the 24-year-old son of Republican figure Nikki Haley, drew swift pushback on October 23, 2025, after urging an end to mass immigration and pressing for states to block H-1B visas. British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan replied by noting that Nalin’s own grandfather, Ajit Singh Randhawa, immigrated from India to the United States in 1969, a pointed reminder that the family’s story is tied to immigration policies now under fire.

The exchange on X and immediate reactions

In a post on X, Nalin said mass immigration should stop due to overcrowding, economic strain, and the rise of artificial intelligence in the labor market. He argued that states should have the power to deny H-1B visas, and he referenced what he called a recent President Trump policy imposing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications.

Mehdi Hasan, founder of Zeteo, responded by highlighting Nalin’s family history. Hasan noted that Ajit Singh Randhawa came from Punjab in 1969 and later joined the faculty at Voorhees College in South Carolina. Randhawa, a respected academic who earned advanced degrees in biology, died in June 2024. Hasan also pointed out that harsh quotas and anti-immigrant rhetoric existed in that era as well, drawing a line from past restrictions to today’s fights.

The exchange turned heated. Nalin dismissed Hasan’s comparison and replied, “This ain’t 1969, bud. And you should be denaturalised. All you do is complain about America anyway.” The remark prompted strong online reactions, with critics arguing Nalin ignored arguments once used against his grandparents while now calling for broader limits that would affect people with similar backgrounds.

The dispute underscores how immigration politics often double as family history in 2025. Personal stories are frequently invoked to bolster policy positions.

Arguments on both sides

Supporters of Nalin’s position say:

• Limits protect jobs, public services, and local communities from strain.
• States, they argue, know local labor markets best and should be able to act accordingly.

Opponents counter that:

• The United States benefits when people immigrate, work, and put down roots.
• Families like the Haleys serve as examples of immigrants contributing to civic and academic life.

Mehdi Hasan, himself the son of immigrants from Hyderabad, has often used social media to push back on attacks against foreign-born communities. His remarks about Ajit Singh Randhawa were framed not as a personal dig but as a reminder that policy choices land on real families. He emphasized that today’s proposed restrictions echo earlier barriers that earlier generations faced and sometimes overcame with difficulty.

H-1B debate and broader policy context

Nalin’s focus on H-1B visas taps into a broader policy shift in 2025. The environment has seen tougher rules and higher costs for legal migration channels, with the H-1B route singled out in public debate.

Key points:

• Critics of the H-1B program claim it can reduce wages and displace local workers.
• Business groups warn that tougher rules could push employers to shift roles abroad or offshore work.
• Supporters of the program and immigrant advocates say the U.S. needs talent and that abrupt changes would harm startups and small firms.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the fight over legal immigration programs reflects a deeper struggle about the country’s economic future and identity. The debate is not just about numbers; it’s about whose stories count as American and whose labor the economy needs amid rapid technological change.

Legal and practical implications of state control

Policy watchers stress that giving states control over federal visa programs would be a major break from long-standing practice. Immigration has traditionally been handled at the federal level, with programs and caps set by Washington.

• Nalin’s call for states to deny H-1B visas contrasts with that tradition.
• Supporters say state leaders know local markets best.
• Legal experts warn that 50 different approaches would create confusion for employers and workers and invite court challenges.

Historical resonance: 1969 and earlier restrictions

Mehdi Hasan’s reference to 1969 recalls a painful period in immigration history when restrictions often shut out applicants by nationality or region. While the details differ from today, both eras feature intense fights about who gets in and why. The comparison is striking because families like the Haleys came during a time when the door was heavy and uneven.

Public reaction and consequences

Online reaction to Nalin Haley reflected the split in public opinion:

• Some praised him for raising concerns about housing, wages, and AI.
• Others condemned his call that Mehdi Hasan should be “denaturalised,” calling it punitive and un-American.
• Many pointed to Ajit Singh Randhawa’s decades of teaching in South Carolina as evidence that immigrants add to civic life, even amid hostile politics.

For foreign students and early-career professionals, the clash sends mixed messages:

• They hear that the United States needs talent, yet also see calls to close doors that previous generations walked through.
• Employers must decide whether to hire through programs that may change or to move work to countries with clearer paths for skilled candidates.

Policy Context

The 2025 policy climate includes new restrictions and higher costs on legal pathways, with the H-1B program singled out in public debate.

• Official information on visa categories, filing rules, and eligibility is on the federal site for immigration services, including the USCIS H‑1B program page.
• While Nalin cited a $100,000 fee for new applications, business groups and immigrant advocates say further price hikes would hit small firms and startups hardest.

Reactions and implications

The exchange between Nalin Haley and Mehdi Hasan lands at a moment when voters are sorting through major questions:

1. How many people should the country admit each year?
2. Which visas serve the economy best?
3. What happens when families with immigrant roots argue to narrow the door for others?

Each answer has real consequences for companies, campuses, and communities that depend on steady, predictable rules.

• Employer groups warn that sudden changes to H-1B visas could deter investment and spark offshoring.
• Restrictionist groups argue tighter rules could encourage firms to train and hire more local workers.
• Families with mixed status fear that hardline rhetoric can quickly become concrete policy, leading to lost opportunities.

Mehdi Hasan’s pushback frames the argument in human terms: a grandfather arrives in 1969, builds a career, and helps educate young people in South Carolina. Decades later, his grandson calls for sweeping cuts to the system that made that journey possible. For many readers, that contrast captures the heart of this year’s immigration debate.

Experts expect more showdowns like this—online, on cable, and on the campaign trail. Heated words won’t settle complex rules, but they do shape the tone of the debate and how people see immigrants and their children.

As the conversation continues, policy outcomes may hinge on votes and legal battles, but the direction often turns on the personal stories families tell about how they got here and who they think should follow.