UNCLE DON DOESN'T WANT YOU

INDIANS IN AMERICA ARE IN FOR TROUBLE SHOULD TRUMP ENFORCE HIS HARDLINE STANCE ON IMMIGRATION AFTER TAKING OVER AS PRESIDENT. HOW REAL IS THE THREAT AND WHAT INDIA CAN DO ABOUT IT

- ANILESH S. MAHAJAN & AJAY SUKUMARAN

IT is only on January 20 that many an aspiring America-bound Indian worker or student will find out if it's going to be a Happy New Year or not. That is the date when Donald Trump will formally take oath as president of the United States for a second time and reveal the contours of what he promises will be the most radical immigration policy ever. It could shatter, among other things, the dollar dreams of many Indians. Close to one million Indian legal migrants and their families with H-1B or temporary employment visas could be directly impacted. Another 725,000 Indians, who are presumed to have entered America illegally, could face deportation. Trump has vowed that he will carry out the largest ever deportation of illegal immigrants from the USA on Day 1 of his presidency. It is likely to include Indians. Top on that list are 17,940 Indian illegal migrants who have exhausted all legal recourse. They may face immediate deportation, which could prove to be a major political headache for the Narendra Modi government (see The New American Nightmare).