> No it's not.
> Anecdata: plenty of Indian citizens in Europe go troublefree to the US.
> I personally know a few people.
I have my anecdata too, I know a few people who are travelling to Europe and they're getting single entry fixed dates visas every time. Sure they "go troublefree" by some definition, but in their home country they'd most certainly get long-term multivisas. And that's not even mentioning queue times...
> You make it sound like they would illegally-immigrate to America.
Have you ever been on a visa interview in US embassy? These guys view most people as willing to illegally immigrate to America. It's your burden to prove that you're going to return, and every fact counts.
> Why would someone who's legally present in Europe (and presumably tax-paying) sneak away to America?
Higher salaries, better job market, better living conditions, you name it.
> If such people want to immigrate to America it's fair to assume they would do it the proper way (instead of going there on a tourist visa and disappearing).
The proper way when you are selling your soul to a corporation for 3 to 5 years (L1)? Or the proper way when you are playing lottery with little-to-no chance to win (DV)? Or the proper way when you are playing lottery with a slightly higher chance to win, but with a 10+ years path to permanant resident status (H1B)? Like, the only somewhat working way to legally immigrate to America is to either grind portfolio for O1 visa, or to go study and try very hard to change status there.
US immigration system is so fucked up there is no proper way easier than crossing Mexican border and legalizing as a refugee. Or "disappearing" on tourist visa.