Trump's immigration crackdown puts over 20,000 undocumented Indians at risk
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping immigration crackdown, emphasizing the southern border with Mexico and criminal cartels. However, this policy shift has also raised concerns in New Delhi, particularly for the 20,407 undocumented Indians facing uncertain futures in the United States.
As of November 2024, these individuals fall into two categories: 17,940 are under final removal orders but not detained, while 2,467 remain in detention under the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Indians now constitute the fourth-largest national group in ICE custody and the largest among Asians. Overall, ICE currently detains more than 37,000 non-citizens from various countries.
A final removal order, issued by an immigration judge, becomes binding once affirmed by an appellate authority. ICE has identified India as one of 15 "uncooperative" nations, citing reluctance to accept deported nationals. This designation includes delays in removal proceedings, refusal to conduct consular interviews, and resistance to accepting deportees via charter flights.
Non-citizens can appeal removal orders to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Even when a final order is upheld, deportations may not occur due to protective provisions under the Convention Against Torture or established risks of persecution in their home countries.
The deportation of Indians from the US has surged dramatically, rising from 292 in 2021 to 1,529 in 2024, according to ICE's annual report. However, data discrepancies remain. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the Lok Sabha that 519 Indians were deported between November 2023 and October 2024. In contrast, the Department of Homeland Security reported 1,100 deportations during the same period, including voluntary departures and withdrawals.
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Polling underway for 5 RS seats in Bihar
Patna (PTI): Voting is underway for five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar on Monday, with five nominees from the ruling NDA and one from the opposition RJD contesting the biennial polls, an official said.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin, also the five-time MLA from Bankipur assembly seat, RJD's national working president Tejashwi Yadav, BJP MLA Maithili Thakur, and jailed JD(U) legislator Anant Singh, among others, cast their ballots.
The polling, which commenced at 9 am, will continue till 5 pm in the Bihar Assembly complex, where MLAs are casting their ballots, he said.
Counting will begin after 5 pm, and the results are expected to be declared the same day.
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar and Nabin are among the NDA candidates. The other three nominees from the ruling coalition are Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha, both sitting members of the Rajya Sabha, and BJP's Shivesh Kumar, who is seeking a berth in the Upper House of Parliament for the first time.
Yadav, after casting his vote, said, "Our candidate Amarendra Dhari Singh will win as we have got support from the five MLAs of AIMIM and one BSP legislator."
Talking to reporters on Monday, JD(U)'s national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "NDA's all five candidates will win. We don't care what opposition parties are claiming."
The AIMIM announced on Sunday that all five of its MLAs would support the RJD candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls.
Talking to reporters after casting his vote, Singh said, "If Nitish Kumar does not remain the CM, I will not contest polls next time. My children will contest elections."
Singh, the Mokama MLA, was arrested ahead of the assembly polls last year in connection with the killing of Dular Chand Yadav, a rival gangster who was supporting the local candidate of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party.
Singh, who has since been unable to secure bail, was allowed to cast his vote on parole.
With numbers comfortably in favour of the NDA for four seats and marginally short for the fifth, the opposition forced an election by fielding the RJD's candidate.
The state administration has made adequate security arrangements to ensure a smooth election, an official said.
The NDA aims to win all five seats but needs support from three legislators from the opposition bench to achieve that.
The Grand Alliance kept its MLAs at a hotel in the state capital to prevent alleged poaching by rivals.
However, the NDA organised meetings with its legislators at the residences of ministers and senior leaders in the state's capital on Sunday.
The NDA enjoys a brute majority in the assembly, though its tally of 202 in the 243-member House falls three short of the number needed to secure all five Rajya Sabha seats.
To win a Rajya Sabha berth, one needs the support of at least 41 MLAs in the Bihar assembly.
