Let people links flourish, but fight illegal migration

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have noted the importance of advancing people to people ties between India and the US even as the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment against illegal immigration, days after the US sent a military plane with 104 illegal migrants back with more such flights expected to land in India over the next two days.

- Prashant Jha

WASHINGTON:

As the two leaders met at the White House on Thursday, this was an issue that had assumed particular significance amid growing political and racist backlash over Trump's hard stance in his first month in office.

Modi on Thursday called for a battle against the entire "ecosystem" and "racket" that allowed illegal migration to flourish, but the leaders focused on legal migrants-both students and professionals-from India who added value to the US. Despite a backlash from his own nativist base against H-1B visa holders back in December, Trump and his key supporter Elon Musk had backed legal migration for professionals.

Students welcome The joint statement said that the two leaders noted that more than the 300,000 strong Indian student community contributes over $8 billion annually to the US economy and helps create a number of direct and indirect jobs. They recognised that the talent flow and movement of students, researchers and employees, mutually benefitted both countries.