Immigration Attorney Anna K. Gorisch Faces Backlash After Defending Trump's Deportation Policies, Cites Personal and Professional Costs
New York, NY – Prominent immigration attorney Anna K. Gorisch has revealed significant personal and professional repercussions following her public defense of former President Donald Trump's deportation policies. Gorisch, who recently debated at the Soho Forum in New York City, shared her experiences on social media, highlighting the isolation and threats she has faced for her political stance and vote for Trump. Her candid remarks underscore the deeply polarizing nature of immigration issues in the United States.
Gorisch, an immigration attorney at Kendall Immigration Law, PLLC, specializing in employment-based immigration, publicly defended Trump's deportation policies at a Soho Forum debate against journalist Glenn Greenwald. The debate centered on the resolution: "President Trump’s deportation policies generally violate key civil liberties as set forth in the U.S. Constitution." Her participation placed her in a contentious spotlight, particularly given her profession.
In a recent tweet, Gorisch stated, "I stood on a stage in NYC at the Soho Forum and defended Trump's deportation policies. I have been open about my vote for Trump, which makes me a pariah in my own profession. I have defended MAGA as nonviolent in comparison to the left." She further lamented, "My vote for Trump cost me nearly all my friends. I've been libertarian my entire adult life and the libertarians hate me."
The attorney also disclosed receiving "endless hate and threats from MAGA," with some individuals targeting her firm. She suggested that her smaller stature in the legal field makes her an easier target than larger firms involved in similar work. Gorisch expressed a provocative sentiment regarding the H-1B visa program, stating, "I'm shutting up. But if the H-1B ends and all companies vastly expand operations overseas, I will celebrate. Will it hurt our economy? Yes. It could devastate us and send us into a deep economic depression, but as long as there are no 'jeets' MAGA will be happy. Getting a job isn't really the point."
The H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, has been a contentious topic, particularly within the Trump administration. While former President Trump has expressed varied opinions on the program, at times supporting it for attracting "competent people" and at others criticizing it as a "scam" that displaces American workers, his administration has previously implemented stricter measures, leading to increased denial rates for H-1B petitions. Recent discussions within the Republican party, including figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, show a split on the program's future, with some advocating for its reform to attract high-skilled talent and others calling for further restrictions.
Economists and studies, including research by Giovanni Peri, generally indicate that H-1B workers have a positive impact on the U.S. economy, boosting wages for native college-educated workers and contributing to innovation and productivity. However, critics, including some within the MAGA movement, argue that the program can lead to wage suppression and job displacement for American workers. The debate surrounding H-1B visas highlights a broader tension between economic growth driven by skilled immigration and concerns over domestic employment.