As the new US administration is preparing for a crackdown on illegal migration after Donald Trump’s second term began on Monday, India is set to take back its citizens residing illegally in America, according to a report by the news agency Bloomberg.
The report said that India is working behind the scenes to appease the Trump administration to avoid a trade war with the US.
“The two countries have together identified some 18,000 illegal Indian migrants in the US to be sent back home,” Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter.
The numbers could be much higher, as it is unclear how many illegal Indian migrants live in the US.
A report published last year by the US Department of Homeland Security estimated some 220,000 unauthorized Indian immigrants resided in the US as of 2022.
“Any slack in taking back illegal US migrants could also adversely affect India’s labour and mobility agreements with other countries,” Bloomberg reported.
Within hours after taking oath as 47th US President on Monday, Trump pushed to end birthright citizenship and mobilize troops on the US-Mexico border.
India also hopes that the Trump administration will protect legal immigration channels used by its citizens to enter the US, in particular student visas and the H-1B program for skilled workers.
According to official data, Indians accounted for almost three-fourths of the 386,000 H-1B visas granted in 2023.
“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,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, as per the Bloomberg report.
“The latest deportation of Indian nationals from the US by a chartered flight is a result of this cooperation,” he added, referring to an October repatriation action.
President Trump on Monday signalled plans to impose previously threatened tariffs of as much as 25% on Mexico and Canada by February 1, reiterating his contention that America’s closest neighbours and largest trading partners are letting undocumented migrants and drugs flood into the US.
“We’re thinking in terms of 25% on Mexico and Canada because they’re allowing vast numbers of people” across the border, Trump said.
In a bid to avoid a potential trade war with the United States, India has reportedly agreed to repatriate around 18,000 of its citizens who are currently living in the US illegally. The move comes after the Trump administration threatened to impose tariffs on Indian goods if the country did not take action to address the issue of illegal immigration.
According to reports, the Indian government has been in talks with US officials to facilitate the return of these migrants, many of whom are said to be living in the country without proper documentation. While the exact details of the repatriation process have not been disclosed, it is believed that the two countries are working towards a mutually agreeable solution.
The decision to repatriate the illegal migrants is seen as a strategic move by India to de-escalate tensions with the US and prevent any potential trade disruptions. It is also a reflection of the growing importance of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, which have been working to strengthen their economic and strategic ties in recent years.
As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the repatriation process will unfold and what impact it will have on the broader relationship between India and the US. However, the willingness of both countries to engage in dialogue and find a solution to the issue of illegal migration is a positive sign that they are committed to resolving their differences through diplomatic means.
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