Internet users on the forum 4chan reportedly attempted to block Indian workers from returning to the United States after President Donald Trump announced a significant, but ultimately confusing, change to the H-1B visa programme. The disruption, named “Operation Clog the Toilet,” aimed to exploit the flight reservation system during a period of mass confusion and panic.
The Online Disruption
The prank involved users reserving flight seats between India and the US without completing the payment. According to posts on the site, this action temporarily held the seats and resulted in tickets becoming more expensive or unavailable for legitimate passengers.
“Indians are just waking up after the H-1B news. Want to keep them in India? Clog the flight reservation system!” read one forum message. Another user boasted, “I got 100 seats locked.” The scheme aimed to exacerbate the sudden rush for tickets following the President’s initial statement.
Confusion Over H-1B Fee Change
The panic stemmed from President Trump’s announcement last Friday that future applicants for H-1B visas would be required to pay a steep $100,000 fee instead of entering the existing lottery system.
The immediate confusion over whether this new requirement applied to existing visa holders led to rapid corporate action and market volatility:
- Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and JPMorgan reportedly advised staff to immediately return to the US or cancel foreign travel plans.
- Flight prices from New Delhi to New York doubled within hours, soaring from approximately rupees () to rupees ().
The White House later clarified that the new fee would only apply to future applicants and not the current existing visa holders, but not before the initial statement caused the widespread rush for tickets that the 4chan group attempted to capitalize on.
The H-1B visa, introduced in 1990, allows US firms to hire foreign workers with specialist skills. President Trump has often sent mixed messages regarding the program, having previously called the visas “very bad,” yet recently stating he had “always liked” the scheme.
Source: Indian Express
