Randhir Jaiswal, MEA spokesperson, said: “As part of India-US cooperation on migration and mobility, both sides are engaged in a process to deter illegal migration. This is being done to create more avenues for legal migration from India to the US.”
India's cooperation on migration issues is also driven by its desire to maintain a strong relationship with the US, which is crucial for its economic and strategic interests.
According to the Pew Research Center, there would be 7,25,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the US, making them the third largest group after those from Mexico and El Salvador.
India is engaging in backchannel discussions with the Trump administration to address illegal Indian nationals in the US, aiming to repatriate controversial individuals.
New Delhi hopes to maintain the H-1B visa program for skilled workers. Trump's administration has intensified efforts to curb undocumented immigration, with plans to end birthright citizenship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been actively engaging with various countries to sign migration agreements, including Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Israel.
These agreements aim to promote legal migration and deter illegal migration, while also addressing the issue of labour mobility.
By taking back 'illegal migrants', New Delhi feels the support networks of Khalistani movement or any such misadventures can be disrupted.
This will also prevent such anti-India organisations gain traction.
India is taking proactive steps to collaborate with the Trump administration in the United States, aiming to avoid a trade war and strengthen bilateral ties.
A significant aspect of this cooperation involves the repatriation of Indian citizens residing illegally in the US.
Estimates suggest that around 18,000 Indian migrants are set to be deported, although the actual number could be substantially higher due to the challenges in tracking undocumented individuals, reports claimed.
This move to take back 18000 Indians is now seen as a strategic effort by India to appease the Trump administration.
The Trump's leadership is vocal about its intentions to crack down on illegal immigration.
In fact, President Trump has already begun to fulfill his campaign promises, pushing to end birthright citizenship and deploying troops to the US-Mexico border.
India hopes that by cooperating on the issue of illegal migration, the Trump administration will reciprocate by protecting legal immigration channels, including student visas and the H-1B program for skilled workers.
No comments:
Post a Comment