Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt ignited controversy with his recent comments linking India's Chilkur Balaji Temple, known as the 'Visa Temple,' to a so-called 'Visa Cartel' that he argues displaces American workers and depresses wages. In a series of posts on social media platform X, Schmitt claimed that US visa programs, including H-1B, L-1, and F-1, contribute to this cartel, which he believes undermines the American middle class. He specifically criticized the practice of visa aspirants visiting the temple to seek blessings for their applications, suggesting that it exemplifies a system that favors foreign applicants over American graduates. Schmitt's statements also included allegations that foreign students, particularly Indian nationals, receive taxpayer-subsidized work permits while American graduates struggle with student debt. He further asserted that Indian visa holders share interview questions among themselves, a claim he did not substantiate. These remarks come as India continues to dominate H-1B visa approvals, accounting for approximately 70-80% of the total, a point that underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the program's impact on the US labor market.