Stop feeling bad for Indian illegal immigrants Trump throws out. They chose to leave India

Illustration by Soham Sen | ThePrint

So, immigration is back at the top of our minds. The Mumbai police say that the man who attacked Saif Ali Khan was not a local but had sneaked into the city from Bangladesh. And anyone watching Donald Trump’s inauguration speech could not fail to conclude that, for the new US President, immigration is the biggest problem facing America.

Until recently, most Indians could not afford to be anti-immigrant. After all, Indians are among the biggest beneficiaries of immigration policies, especially those formulated by Western nations.

Take my own family as an example. Most of my relatives live in America, and they have all done very well for themselves. It was possible for them to make new lives in America only because the US accepted, in limited numbers, intelligent and highly qualified people from around the world.

Indeed, families of people that many Indians are proud of are immigrants to the US: Sundar Pichai, Ajay Banga, Vinod Khosla, Satya Nadella, and perhaps even Vivek Ramaswamy. And this doesn’t even include those who have made it in other countries, like Rishi Sunak in the UK.

We understand Trump’s language  

In his speech, Trump drew a clear distinction between legal immigrants (like the individuals mentioned above) and illegal immigrants. His push to declare a national emergency at America’s southern border was not directed at well-qualified, legal immigrants but at those trying to enter the US illegally.

As we listened to him, we told ourselves that he was only talking about Mexicans. But this is not entirely accurate. In recent years, US authorities have apprehended thousands of Indians trying to enter the country illegally via the southern border. One estimate has it that 10 Indians try to enter the US illegally every hour. Apparently, half of those are Gujaratis, a source of constant embarrassment for Gujaratis like myself, who are justly proud of how well legal Gujarati immigrants (like my family) have done in the US.

So, let’s not kid ourselves that Trump’s policies will not apply to Indians. In fact, thousands of illegal Indian immigrants will be sent back to our country. According to some reports, we are already reconciled to accepting the first instalment of 1,800 deportees.

This brings us to the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Following the attack on Saif, the Shiv Sena echoed the fears first raised by Bal Thackeray—that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants pose a threat to Mumbai. Politicians may deny it, but there is little doubt that this sentiment is fast becoming conventional wisdom across India. We can argue about legal immigration. But, goes the general refrain, we cannot afford to be indifferent to illegal immigration from countries like Bangladesh.

In an odd parallel, Indians seem to echo the sentiments of Donald Trump and his supporters when it comes to illegal immigration in our own country. In the case of Bangladeshis who have entered India illegally, it does not help their case that there is currently so much anti-India feeling in Bangladesh or that Hindus are being targeted there.

Although anti-immigration sentiment in India has yet to reach US levels, it certainly has the potential to become a major national issue in the years ahead.

Of more immediate concern to me is how we should respond to issues involving Indian immigrants in the West. Until now, we have strongly identified India’s interests with those of immigrants and would-be immigrants. In trade negotiations, we have treated the rights of Indians to stay or study abroad as a priority and as something that benefits India.

But is this really in our national interest? Why should we believe that it is? I think it’s time to ask those questions.

Negotiate, intervene—for whom?

Let’s first take the issue of H-1B visas, which are under threat under the Trump administration. These visas have been used by many qualified Indian professionals to build new lives in the US. Despite the current attention being paid to illegal immigration, the H-1B issue is a hot one, made even hotter in the US by social media campaigns from the Trump faithful who argue that too many Indians are entering the US using such visas. Even Elon Musk, Trump‘s chief cheerleader who once argued strongly for H-1B visas, is now less vocal in his support.

My view is simple: Indians have every right to try and make new lives for themselves in the US, provided the US wants them. Perhaps America will be making a mistake if it does not take advantage of the skills of these Indians by denying them H-1B visas. Or perhaps it is the right decision, given the strength of domestic sentiment.

Either way, what does it have to do with the Indian government? Or even with you and me? This is a matter between Indians applying for H-1B visas and the US government. There is no earthly reason for our government to get involved. Indians have no God-given right to emigrate to the US or expect our officials to fight for their foreign residencies.

In fact, as a general rule, we should wash our hands of immigration issues. Why should an India-UK trade deal hang fire because we want more student visas? Why should we ask for more H-1B visas in exchange for accepting deportees? Is India such a pathetic country that our government fights for the right of Indians to abandon it?

Every negotiation involves give-and-take. So why should Indian negotiators make concessions for visas for people who want to go to foreign countries? Shouldn’t they ask for trade benefits or something that benefits those of us who want and choose to remain in India?

If the Trump administration does manage to round up Indians who have entered the US illegally and sends them back to India, we should recognise and respect the US’ right to do so. Those people knew they were breaking US laws. They deserve no sympathy. It would be foolish for us to intervene on their behalf.

This may also be a good time for us to take a long, hard look at the Indian diaspora. It is now more than clear that people of Indian origin who hold positions of influence in Western countries—such as Suella Braverman or Priti Patel, or even Kamala Harris—make every effort to demonstrate that they put the interests of their adopted countries way ahead of India’s. This is only fair and certainly the right thing for them to do.

So why should India take the line that it is our job to stand up for the diaspora or those who want to emigrate and become part of that diaspora?

I don’t agree with Donald Trump on many things. But the people who elected him have every right to decide how their country will be run. If that includes denying residency rights to some Indians or deporting illegal immigrants, well then, that’s their business.

India must look after its own interests and those of its resident citizens, not the interests of people who want to leave our country and settle abroad.

Vir Sanghvi is a print and television journalist, and talk show host. He tweets @virsanghvi. Views are personal.

(Edited by Prashant)