US President Donald Trump, during his remarks on Monday, reaffirmed his stance on illegal immigration and expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would "do what’s right" in facilitating the return of Indian immigrants residing in the United States illegally. His comments followed a phone call with PM Modi, where the two leaders discussed a range of critical bilateral issues, including immigration, trade, and economic ties. Trump’s remarks come amid his broader commitment to launching the largest deportation initiative in US history as part of his crackdown on illegal immigration.
According to Bloomberg News, Indian and US authorities have identified approximately 18,000 undocumented Indian immigrants currently living in the United States. This issue was also a key focus during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent meeting with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Rubio emphasized the importance of resolving concerns related to irregular migration while enhancing cooperation on legal migration frameworks.
Jaishankar reiterated India’s long-standing position on supporting the legitimate return of undocumented Indian nationals while stressing the importance of due diligence and verification processes. "As a government, we have always been open to the legitimate return of our citizens who are in another country illegally. However, we are still in the process of verifying those individuals identified by US authorities. Verification is crucial to ensure the accuracy of citizenship claims before facilitating their return," Jaishankar told a group of Indian reporters in Washington, D.C.
The minister emphasized the distinction between legal and illegal migration, advocating for global opportunities for skilled Indian professionals while denouncing unlawful mobility. “We firmly believe in legal mobility because we understand the value of a global workforce. Indian talent and skills have made significant contributions globally, especially in sectors like IT, healthcare, and engineering. However, illegal migration is detrimental to our reputation and often leads to complications, including other associated illegal activities," he added.
Jaishankar also raised concerns over the lengthy visa processing times for skilled workers and other Indian applicants, which he said hindered the strengthening of bilateral ties. "If it takes over 400 days to process a visa, it’s clear that the relationship is not being well-served by this system. I conveyed this concern to Secretary Rubio, and he acknowledged the need for improvement," Jaishankar said.
President Trump, while taking a hardline approach to illegal immigration, emphasized his openness to legal migration, particularly for skilled workers. He acknowledged India's significant contribution to the US economy through its pool of talented IT professionals, who are among the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa program. Trump has consistently advocated for reforms to the immigration system to prioritize skilled migration while reducing illegal entries.
In a related statement, Trump pivoted to trade issues, criticizing countries such as India, China, and Brazil for imposing high tariffs on US goods. Speaking to House Republicans at a Florida retreat, Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on nations he accuses of "harming" America’s economic interests. "We will put tariffs on outside countries that harm us economically. China is a tremendous tariff maker, and so are India and Brazil. We cannot let this continue. It’s time to put America first," he said.
Trump argued that the US should return to policies that historically made it "richer and more powerful." He referenced his inaugural address, saying, "Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich foreign nations, we should be tariffing and taxing foreign nations to enrich our citizens." Trump also urged foreign companies to set up manufacturing units within the US as a way to avoid tariffs, calling this a win-win solution for both businesses and American workers.
This is not the first time Trump has targeted the BRICS bloc, which includes India, China, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa. He previously floated the idea of imposing 100% tariffs on BRICS countries to counter what he perceives as unfair trade practices. Trump’s stance reflects a broader protectionist agenda aimed at revitalizing domestic industries and rebalancing trade deficits with key global economies.
Cold statistics aside, Trump’s dual focus on illegal immigration and trade underlines his broader strategy to align economic and national security interests while maintaining strong bilateral relationships with countries like India. By emphasizing collaboration on legal migration, particularly for skilled workers, and critiquing trade imbalances, Trump seeks to reinforce his "America First" agenda while navigating complex geopolitical ties. As India remains a critical partner for the US in terms of both economic growth and strategic alignment, the outcomes of these discussions will likely have far-reaching implications for the bilateral relationship.
