In New Delhi, foreign affairs expert Robinder Nath Sachdev has highlighted the challenges faced by over 20,000 undocumented Indians in the United States. Despite Indians being the largest group of H-1B visa recipients and foreign students in the US, these undocumented individuals face the threat of deportation.
Sachdev emphasized the significant consequences of deporting these individuals, noting that while Indians benefit greatly from the H-1B visa program, the situation of these undocumented Indians remains a concern. He stated, "For, even as Indians get most of the work H-1B visas and an estimated 300,000 Indian students are in the US -- the largest cohort from any foreign country -- there is a cloud over the plight of over 20,000."
The Indian government is increasingly worried about the impact of this situation on its citizens abroad. The US government's heightened scrutiny of immigration policies has raised alarms among the Indian community and government. President Trump has shown support for skilled immigrants, acknowledging the importance of the H-1B program for bringing quality people into the country. However, the issue of undocumented Indians remains unresolved.
President Trump expressed his support for skilled immigrants, stating, "I like both sides of the argument but I also like very competent people coming to our country, even if that involves them training and helping others that may not have the qualifications... About HB1, I know the program very well and I have used that program... We have to have quality people coming in... By doing that, we are expanding businesses that take care of everybody... We need great people to come to our country and we do that through the H1B program..."
While President Trump's immigration crackdown has primarily focused on the southern US border with Mexico, concerns are growing in New Delhi. The deportation of these individuals could have broader implications for the US economy, with a report by the American Immigration Council estimating a potential loss of 4.2 to 6.8 percent of the US GDP, or USD 1.1 trillion to USD 1.7 trillion in 2022 dollars.
Despite the benefits of the H-1B program, the uncertain future of undocumented Indians and the increasing pressure on immigration policies under the current administration add to the anxiety surrounding this issue.
Robinder Nath Sachdev is an expert in foreign affairs, which means he knows a lot about how countries interact with each other. He talks about important issues that affect people from India living in other countries.
Undocumented Indians are people from India living in the US without the proper legal permission or papers. This means they might have overstayed their visas or entered the country without the right documents.
The H-1B visa is a special permission that allows skilled workers from other countries, like India, to work in the US for a certain period. Many Indians go to the US on this visa to work in technology and other fields.
Deportation is when a person is forced to leave a country because they don't have the right to stay there. For undocumented Indians, this means they might have to return to India if they are caught without proper documents.
US immigration policies are the rules and laws that decide who can enter, stay, or work in the United States. These policies can change and affect people from other countries, including Indians.
President Trump was the President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He had specific ideas about immigration, supporting skilled workers but also making it harder for undocumented people to stay in the US.
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