A few weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Washington and meets President Donald Trump, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents visited Gurudwaras in New York, New Jersey and many other places, setting the alarm bells ringing. Not only the Sikhs, but the entire population of the Indian diaspora panicked and apprehended arrested, detention and harassed.
Religious places like Gurudwaras, temples, mosques and churches come under “sensitive” areas. In an earlier guideline issued during the Joe Biden administration, the ICE and the Customs and Border Protection were asked not to raid the sensitive areas.
Did ICE Agents Raid Gurudwaras?
However, immediately after Donald Trump took oath, this waiver was removed. A DHS spokesperson said that this action empowered the CBP and ICE agents to enforce immigration laws and catch criminal aliens, including “murderers and rapists, who have illegally come into our country”.
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However, a day after the alleged visit of the ICE agents, Davinder Singh Bhoprai of the Sikh Cultural Centre Gurdwara in Richmond Hill, New York, rejected the reports as “entirely fake”. He claimed that no such raids had occurred at any gurdwara.
Even after the denial of the raids by the ICE and the CBP agents, analysts believe, Indian immigrants would not get any special treatment and thousands of face the threat of deportation any time shortly.
Indian Immigrants Under Pressure
Political observers admit thousands of Indians have entered the US through the “donkey routes”. They have illegally sneaked into the country through Canada or Mexico. Most of these “illegal aliens”, as they are called in the US, have spent lakhs of rupees to somehow reach the US in search of a better life.
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Many of them have relatives and friends in the country and they can help them find a job. Most of these people get blue-collar and menial jobs for which they are paid much less than the local people.
Will India Take Immigrants Back?
President Donald Trump told reporters after his telephone conversation with PM Modi that the Indian Prime Minister would do whatever he can to take the illegal immigrants back.
He also indicated that Narendra Modi can visit the US in February.
Political analysts believe Donald Trump’s announcement on deporting illegal immigrants and imposing tariffs on imports has upset the Indian establishment.
Though what President Trump said in his inaugural address was not unexpected, his tone and tenor were shocking. He appeared aggressive and belligerent in his approach.
Political analysts believe, that while New Delhi is accepting the new realities and trying to repair the relations, Washington wants to reset the bilateral ties.
Donald Trump Talks Tough
Donald Trump sent strong signals by not inviting PM Narendra Modi for his inaugural, while he personally dialed Xi Jinping, the president of his arch-rival China and invited him.
In the first meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised the issue of “irregular immigrants”.
If media reports are to be believed, the Indian Foreign Minister said that New Delhi would take back illegal immigrants. About 20,000 Indian immigrants have been identified and shortlisted for deportation.
US To Impose Tariffs On Indian Goods
Trump has made it clear in the most unambiguous terms that he would impose tariffs on all imports, including those coming from India.
The US President believes that the trade imbalance with New Delhi is due to unfair trade practices and a lack of level playing fields.
On the other hand, Washington wants to exploit the geostrategic position of India to contain China.
It is evident by the fact that a day after taking oath, Rubio hosted a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Quad nations. S Jaishankar was not only invited to the Quad meeting, he was also invited to attend Trump’s inauguration.
US To Deepen Defense Ties With India
Analysts believe the US wants to deepen defense ties with India. It is evident by the fact that Donald Trump in his first conversation with PM Modi asked India to buy more US arms.
New Delhi bought US arms and ammunition worth $20 billion in 2008. Donald Trump wants more.
Political observers believe the US wants to offer more cutting-edge technologies to India, besides the technical know-how and license to manufacture arms and armaments.
These issues are most likely to figure in the proposed Modi-Trump meeting in Washington next month.
Political analysts believe India needs to be more pragmatic and realistic while dealing with the Trump administration. Donald Trump believes in give-and-take relations on equal footing and New Delhi should not expect any concessions without giving something else on a reciprocal basis.
India is important to Donald Trump for its geostrategic position, but he will always put the America First policy on the top of everything.
Will MEA mandarins accept this reality soon and adjust the policies accordingly?
