Donald Trump in Oval Office
With Donald Trump in Oval Office set to occupy in January next year as the 47th President of the United States, do the US-bound Indian students have any reason to worry? The campaign for presidency spearheaded by Donald Trump had targeted – time and again – the Joe Biden-led Democrats for being too soft on migrants and for reportedly failing to curb illegal immigration.
In his previous term (2016-2020) too, Donald Trump took a slew of steps to crack down on immigration. A report by Prabhudas Lilladher has recently noted that Trump is set to tighten immigration rules and reduce H-1B visas. “Donald Trump’s policies could see a resurgence of aggressive trade tactics, including potential tariffs and stricter immigration policies,” reads the report.
In fact, his previous term witnessed a series of immigration policies which affected skilled professionals and students, especially those holding H-1B, F-1, and H-4 visas.
However, immigration experts believe that Trump’s return to the White House would not impact Indian students since they seek legal immigration whereas the Republican party campaigners including Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk and Donald Trump stridently campaigned against those who enter the US illegally, Donald Trump in Oval Office.
For legal immigrants
Trump had vowed to reinstate his first term policies targeting illegal border crossings and to roll out sweeping new restrictions. Donald Trump in Oval Office, he even said that his administration would embark on the biggest deportation effort in the US history which, of course would need the Congress’ nod. Trump has also said during the campaigning that he would seek to discontinue automatic citizenship for the kids born to immigrants.
However, the students from India do not need to fret since the so-called “anti-immigration” policies will not crack down on legal migrants. At 3.37 lakh, US has the second highest number of Indian students after Canada which has 4.27 lakh students from India.
Most skilled workers from India work on the H-1B visas. There is a standard cap of 65,000 on H-1B visas in a year with an additional 20,000 allocated to the applicants with a master’s degree of higher from a US institution.
Besides H-1B, students are eligible to claim 12-month work visa under what is known as Optional Practical Training (OPT). It is a form of work authorization available to F-1 international students who have been full-time students for at least two consecutive semesters and plan to seek employment in the in their fields of study in the US.
Those graduating from the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields are eligible to seek another 24-month extension of their OPT. Donald Trump in Oval Office
Legacy and Public Perception of Trump’s Presidency
Donald Trump in Oval Office left a lasting impact on American politics. His presidency was marked by a shift towards populism and a vocal resistance to established political norms. His “America First” policies reshaped both domestic and international relations, leading to a mix of economic achievements and increased polarization.
The Trump presidency redefined the Republican Party, aligning it more closely with nationalist ideals and sparking a new wave of conservatism that resonated with millions of Americans. Trump’s use of social media, particularly Twitter, revolutionized political communication, allowing him to directly engage with the public and bypass traditional media channels.
Vivek Ramaswamy’s comments during a rally in run up to the Presidential elections encapsulate his party’s stand on legal and illegal migrants, “To every legal immigrant: you’re like my parents. You deserve the opportunity to secure a better life for your children in America.
Our message to illegal immigrants: we will return you to your country of origin. Not because you are all bad people but because you broke the law and the United States was founded on the rule of law.”
The Legacy of Donald Trump’s Oval Office Era
Trump’s presidency is considered one of the most polarizing in modern U.S. history, with ardent supporters and equally vocal detractors. The legacy he left behind continues to influence American politics, as he remains a prominent figure in the Republican Party and continues to shape public discourse, Donald Trump in Oval Office.
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With Donald Trump in Oval Office set to occupy in January next year as the 47th President of the United States, do the US-bound.