Donald Trump: Since Donald Trump took office as President, the United States has ramped up efforts to address illegal immigration. During his inauguration, Trump announced the deployment of troops to the Mexican border and proposed the elimination of birthright citizenship.
Indian government to collaborate with the Trump administration?
Reports indicate that the Indian government is prepared to collaborate with the Trump administration to identify and repatriate approximately 18,000 Indian nationals residing illegally in the U.S. This move suggests that New Delhi is eager to work with Trump to prevent a potential trade conflict.
Around 18,000 undocumented Indian immigrants
The U.S. has pinpointed around 18,000 undocumented Indian immigrants slated for deportation back to India. The Indian government will verify their identities and initiate the deportation process. However, this figure may be an underestimation, as the true number of illegal Indian immigrants in the U.S. remains uncertain. Officials, who requested anonymity, have indicated that the actual count could be significantly higher, with many of these individuals hailing from West India, particularly Punjab and Gujarat. Similar to other nations, India is discreetly engaging with the Trump administration to mitigate trade threats.
The crackdown on illegal immigration has been a central promise of Trump’s campaign. Within hours of his inauguration, he took decisive actions to fulfill this commitment, including the cessation of birthright citizenship and the deployment of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. In exchange for its cooperation, India hopes the Trump administration will maintain legitimate immigration pathways for Indian citizens, such as student visas and the H-1B program for skilled workers, as reported by Bloomberg. Official statistics reveal that nearly 75% of the 386,000 H-1B visas issued in 2023 were granted to Indian nationals.