Overview
Birthright citizenship, which is granted automatically to children born in the US to non-citizen parents, has been targeted by US President Donald Trump. The order titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” one of the first few Presidential Actions the White House lists on its website, states that people born in the United States but not under its authority are not eligible for birthright citizenship.

The campaign that US President Donald Trump has launched against immigrants has created a stir. About 17 lakh Indian families with one or more members employed or enrolled in school in the US have experienced some anxiety as a result. However, we might be overestimating the negative effects of Trump’s anti-immigration policies. It is true that his agenda, which involves mass deportations of illegal immigrants, will have an impact on lakhs of Indian families. A total of 7.25 lakh Indians reside in the United States without the required papers and about 18000 of them have been identified as being a part of the initial mass deportation phase.

The effort may potentially reach students enrolled in American colleges as well as those who wish to live and work in the United States through legal channels, such as H1B visas. It is anticipated that the new administration will revise regulations to make it more difficult for current migrants to renew their visas or for new migrants to obtain visas. There are over 3.3 lakh Indian kids enrolled in American schools, and many more are in line to enroll. On H1B visas, an estimated 5.8 lakh Indians are employed in the United States.

Impact of Immigration Policy on Indian IT workers
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for the H-1B visa program, calling it crucial for luring highly qualified workers to the country. Indian IT workers were reassured by his comments, although H-1B holders, green card applicants, and their families may face difficulties as a result of recent changes to US immigration laws. According to Roma Priya, founder of Burgeon Law, the presidential order of Birthright Citizenship presents important legal issues concerning the citizenship status of those born in the United States to parents who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States.

The Indian IT industry, which mainly depends on the H-1B visa program, applauded Trump’s comments. The initiative is essential for tackling the skills gap in the United States, according to the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom), a trade association that represents India’s business process and IT industries. Given that India and Indian talent are crucial to the expansion of the US economy, Nasscom has no reason to be less optimistic about the growth story of the Indian IT sector, according to Shivendra Singh, vice president of Nasscom. Additionally, he denied typical complaints of the H-1B program, such as the assertion that it substitutes American labor or lowers salaries.

Steps India should take to benefit from this opportunity
India would benefit from a reverse brain drain if Trump’s anti-immigration policies were to cause it. However, the only way to capitalize on the scenario is for local companies to get over their penny-wise mindset and provide the incoming personnel the greatest price.

China’s Thousand Talent program, which drew in thousands of Chinese expatriates with foreign education and expertise, was crucial to the nation’s technical advancement. In addition to joining Chinese enterprises, many of the foreign-returned executives went on to form start-ups or lead research organizations. Beijing broadened the plan to entice talented foreigners to come and work in China. As a result, many American and European businesses now struggle to compete with their Chinese counterparts.

In order to find opportunities and put Indian executives who are either expelled or return on their own as a result of Trump’s anti-immigration policies, the government should collaborate with local companies to develop a program. Indian businesses are adapting to what seems to be a new revolution in artificial intelligence (AI), which has the potential to significantly change how many different industries produce and deliver goods. Getting the assistance of people who have worked for large, multinational corporations might be beneficial. Indian IT companies have placed less emphasis on innovation and more on commercial development and services. India produces very few well-known electronics and software items worldwide. In addition to hiring Indians who have experience with global companies, it would be prudent to draw in skilled foreign workers who could create new research and development capabilities.

Limitations of Trump’s Immigration Policy
Despite his grandiose declarations, Trump will have very little chance of deporting the 18 million illegal immigrants in the United States during his four-year administration. 580 individuals were deported on the first day. Deporting them all would take 82 years at the current rate. Even if the rate of deportations increases fourfold, he would still require twenty years—a very difficult task.

Vice-President JD Vance has already lowered the forecasts, stating that the government will concentrate on deporting the first million illegal immigrants and strive to do what is feasible. Trump has already stated that his administration would track down illegals who have a criminal history. However, it has come to light that determining the origins of immigrants is not a simple process.

Three challenges to the deportation policy have already been encountered. The country that has sent the most illegal migrants, Mexico, has blocked the landing of a U.S. military plane carrying deportees. Additionally, a U.S. court has declared the new order to be flagrantly unlawful, blocking the operation of immigration agents. On another front, senior officials in New Jersey and New York, sanctuary states, have declined to work with immigration authorities. As it happens, American companies prefer the low-wage illegal aliens to stay on their payrolls, working in farms and industries.