- President Donald Trump has been vociferous and forceful in his exhortations about the menace of illegal emigration to the United States of America and to his supporters causing the locals to view the matter with great trepidation. Of course, one of the major campaign planks of the Republican candidate was to address the issue of scores of illegal immigrants present in the most advanced country and equally huge numbers waiting to make an entry as well. Trump had left no ambiguities where his priorities are vis-à-vis illegal emigration conundrum while seeking a fresh mandate from the countrymen. That the Republican candidate could garner such a huge mandate winning hands down suggests widespread support for his stand on the illegal immigrant issue.
PC: Vox
- After the maverick and unpredictable President assumed office, Trump has gone about addressing the matter in earnest. What does it entail for the Indian illegal immigrants who must be now feeling the heat being generated from different quarters? Let’s dwelve to infer the matter. Make no mistake, if India cannot stop illegal emigration to the US, those who went there by legal means will pay a high price. The rise in the anti-immigration sentiment in the US can be traced back to the time of the pandemic. Once, this would have afforded India some sanguinity. Unfortunately, the number of undocumented Indians in the US has also been climbing post-Covid. The illegal cohort has so grown in size, around 725,000, that it is now behind only Mexico and El Salvador.
PC:Pew Research Center
- It’s not a very healthy situation, you see. As his inaugural address made crystal clear, the Trumpian restoration of America and the revolution of common sense have illegals firmly in their crosshairs. Further, India-Americans’ early rise across tech and business spaces is now being seen across the cultural and political enterprise as well. Social capital accumulated over generations, by education and ambition is invaluable to these new successes. But illegal immigrants pose a real threat to this capital. Note that a decade ago Steve Bannon, Trump’s close adviser in his previous term, complained about two-thirds or three-quarters of Silicon Valley CEOs being from South Asia or Asia. Then, it was a fringe remark. But that has gained traction over the years.
PC:Deccan Herald
- Today, the risk of such prejudice hurting diaspora Desis’ upward mobility is palpable. Reports say GOI has now signalled that it will work with the Trump administration to bring back all Indian citizens who are in the US illegally. Hitherto, efforts at cracking down on donkey or dunki routes have been inexcusably underwhelming. Warning signs about the problem snowballing have been stark for quite some time now. The larger picture is that India’s demography is a great fit for rich countries, for supplying both white-collar and blue-collar workers. Proactive actions to reduce illegal emigration are critical to strengthening lawful pathways. To coordinate these, Brand India urgently needs a full-time Union Minister of Emigration. The GOI should consider this forthwith.
