Hyderabad: The resentment against H-1B and the Indian community among incoming US president Donald Trump’s MAGA supporters has been triggered by the influx of illegal migrants from India, not by those going by legal means, says Syed Akbaruddin, one of India’s most respected former diplomats.
Speaking exclusively to TOI ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Monday, he said it is about time India put some restrictions on what is popularly known as the ‘dunki’ route to the US.
“Tough laws should be brought in to deal with such middlemen or agents. Stricter punishments and heavy fines should be slapped on them to control this menace. Once upon a time, there was a spike in contract marriages, but now it has come down with tough laws. Similar action can be planned in terms of illegal migration to the US and other countries,” Akbaruddin, who was India’s permanent representative to the UN before retiring, says.
He added that restrictions on both legal and illegal migration to the US were in the making for some time. The problem lay in India not sensitising its people towards regular and predictable channels. “I think both on our side we tended to ignore it (illegal migration), and on their (USA) side they were so embroiled in their divisiveness, they didn’t address this until it came to an issue where suddenly all of us are unprepared,” he said.
Akbaruddin rejected the argument that the diplomatic soft power that the Indian diaspora has evolved into, would be affected by the MAGA backlash. “There are several Indians who have done exceedingly well in different areas (in the US),” he said. “Due to their efforts, Indians have earned a lot of good will for themselves and the nation as a whole. Somebody going there through illegal means cannot damage this good will.”
At the same time, it is a reality that illegal migration from India has seen a spike. “If not the largest (group of illegal immigrants in the US) from across the globe, we are now in the top five,” added Akbaruddin. “Many people facilitate these illegal immigrants. People who go there suffer with punishments, penalties and deportation, but those sending them through illegal means are free.”
Akbaruddin, who also served in the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that even though there would be a change of guard and stricter policies towards immigration in the US would come in, it will not have an impact on those going through authorised channels. “And we can certainly do more on regulating immigration procedures – sensitise people, spread awareness…”
He also said deportation fears have been exaggerated. “Like Indians, there are also a big number of Chinese illegal immigrants in the US, but China will definitely not accept them if they are sent back. India can have leverage if it owns up to its people. We bring back many people from crisis-hit nations, why not accept our own people who have gone there in ways which are not considered proper? What I would say is we need to normalise this process. This is not a stigma. It happens in growing societies with large populations.”
According to him, creating safe and legal mechanisms of migration also makes economic sense. “The foreign remittances from the US to India are USD 125 billion per year. If we start looking at this entire issue from the point of statistics and the results, things will definitely improve,” said Akbaruddin.
“India needs a give-and-take policy instead of only taking (sending our people to the US),” he said. “Trump’s leverage with us on trade is limited. So, he will use it cleverly. He might use it for illegal immigrants. You accept them and it’s enough for him. If India says that I accept my countrymen, Trump can show to his countrymen that he has sent so many Indians back and claim some success. This will also put India ahead of other countries. Ultimately, all negotiation is give-and-take.”
Speaking exclusively to TOI ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Monday, he said it is about time India put some restrictions on what is popularly known as the ‘dunki’ route to the US.
“Tough laws should be brought in to deal with such middlemen or agents. Stricter punishments and heavy fines should be slapped on them to control this menace. Once upon a time, there was a spike in contract marriages, but now it has come down with tough laws. Similar action can be planned in terms of illegal migration to the US and other countries,” Akbaruddin, who was India’s permanent representative to the UN before retiring, says.
He added that restrictions on both legal and illegal migration to the US were in the making for some time. The problem lay in India not sensitising its people towards regular and predictable channels. “I think both on our side we tended to ignore it (illegal migration), and on their (USA) side they were so embroiled in their divisiveness, they didn’t address this until it came to an issue where suddenly all of us are unprepared,” he said.
Akbaruddin rejected the argument that the diplomatic soft power that the Indian diaspora has evolved into, would be affected by the MAGA backlash. “There are several Indians who have done exceedingly well in different areas (in the US),” he said. “Due to their efforts, Indians have earned a lot of good will for themselves and the nation as a whole. Somebody going there through illegal means cannot damage this good will.”
At the same time, it is a reality that illegal migration from India has seen a spike. “If not the largest (group of illegal immigrants in the US) from across the globe, we are now in the top five,” added Akbaruddin. “Many people facilitate these illegal immigrants. People who go there suffer with punishments, penalties and deportation, but those sending them through illegal means are free.”
Akbaruddin, who also served in the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that even though there would be a change of guard and stricter policies towards immigration in the US would come in, it will not have an impact on those going through authorised channels. “And we can certainly do more on regulating immigration procedures – sensitise people, spread awareness…”
He also said deportation fears have been exaggerated. “Like Indians, there are also a big number of Chinese illegal immigrants in the US, but China will definitely not accept them if they are sent back. India can have leverage if it owns up to its people. We bring back many people from crisis-hit nations, why not accept our own people who have gone there in ways which are not considered proper? What I would say is we need to normalise this process. This is not a stigma. It happens in growing societies with large populations.”
According to him, creating safe and legal mechanisms of migration also makes economic sense. “The foreign remittances from the US to India are USD 125 billion per year. If we start looking at this entire issue from the point of statistics and the results, things will definitely improve,” said Akbaruddin.
“India needs a give-and-take policy instead of only taking (sending our people to the US),” he said. “Trump’s leverage with us on trade is limited. So, he will use it cleverly. He might use it for illegal immigrants. You accept them and it’s enough for him. If India says that I accept my countrymen, Trump can show to his countrymen that he has sent so many Indians back and claim some success. This will also put India ahead of other countries. Ultimately, all negotiation is give-and-take.”
