I am still new to the fediverse but I figured that smaller constellations will federate without connecting to the largest federation.

It’s harder to manipulate 500 disjoint federations than 1 really large one. Especially when some of those federations rely on heavy verification.

Of course those smaller federations are likely organized around specific purposes or organizing interests rather than broad public discourse.

H1-B visas. They keep working there because they don’t want to leave the US. Often they have entire lives and family in the US and have not simply been there for a few short years.