Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
An Indian H-1B worker in the US has filed a lawsuit in the state of Texas alleging that he was forced to pay his employer nearly $100,000 to keep his job and maintain his legal status as an H-1B beneficiary, which would let him stay in America. The individual, identified as Rishikesh Raj Meesala, said he was threatened with being reported to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when he resisted demands made by his Indian American employer, Sai Jitender Kalagra.
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Meesala, in his complaint, also alleged that threats were made against his father.
According to US-based news outlet The American Bazaar, Indian national Meesala claimed that he paid substantial sums to keep a Michigan-based job. In a lawsuit filed by immigration litigation firm Banias Law, Meesala claimed the job position offered him a pathway to permanent residency and eventual US citizenship.
Court documents cited by the news outlet stated that Meesala first entered the United States on a student visa, completed a master’s degree in 2023 and later secured employment that led to H-1B sponsorship.
It reported that shortly after joining a Texas-based company headed by Indian American executive Sai Jitender Kalagra, Meesala was placed on the “bench” — an industry term used when employees are not assigned to active client projects. The lawsuit alleged that while Meesala remained without a project assignment, he was required to effectively fund his own salary and pay significant amounts of money to maintain his employment status.
The complaint further alleged that company officials demanded that Meesala effectively paid his own salary in order to remain employed and preserve his immigration status. According to the lawsuit, the company refused to provide pay stubs to Meesala unless additional payments were made. Such documents are often essential for H-1B workers seeking to transfer to another employer, renew their status or demonstrate compliance with visa requirements.
Banias Law alleged that the company understood the leverage this created. The lawsuit stated that without payroll records, Meesala’s ability to maintain, extend or transfer his H-1B status could be severely affected. According to the complaint, he ultimately paid approximately $8,800 in cash to the company under the threat of losing his immigration status.
The lawsuit also contains more serious allegations. According to the filing, when Meesala objected to the arrangement, company representatives allegedly threatened to report him to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), threatened his father and continued to withhold wages. The complaint argued that these actions constituted labour trafficking, forced labour and document servitude.
Banias Law further alleged that the defendants owe Meesala at least $97,248.94 in unpaid wages and coerced payments. The allegations have not been proven in court, and neither the company nor its chief executive, Indian American businessman Sai Jitender Kalagra, had publicly responded to the claims at the time of reporting by The American Bazaar.
The case has emerged amid ongoing scrutiny of the H-1B programme, which allows US employers to hire foreign professionals in specialised fields such as technology, engineering and finance. Indian workers, in particular, have heavily benefited from the H-1B programme. According to the USCIS Characteristics of H-1B Speciality Occupation Workers report for FY 2024, India-born beneficiaries received 283,397 approvals, representing 71% of the total 399,395 H-1B petitions approved that year.
Supporters of the programme argue that it helps companies fill critical skill shortages and remain globally competitive. Critics, however, contend that the system can leave some workers vulnerable because their legal status is often closely tied to their employer.
As The American Bazaar noted, the lawsuit filed on behalf of Meesala, is the latest in a series of cases alleging mistreatment of foreign workers sponsored through employment-based visa programmes. Similar lawsuits filed in recent years have accused employers of underpaying workers, withholding employment documents, charging unlawful fees and using immigration-related threats to discourage complaints.
Advocates for immigrant workers say such cases highlight the imbalance of power that can exist when a worker’s right to remain in the country depends on continued employment. Employers and industry groups, meanwhile, maintain that abuses represent isolated incidents rather than the norm within the programme.
The case is expected to proceed in federal court, where the allegations and any defence arguments will be examined through the legal process.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
