Kalyani Shankar
South Block believes that Indo-US relations will be strengthened further with the Biden Administration
President Joe Biden has brought cheer to Indians working in the US with his liberalised immigration policy. For many Indians, especially those in the Information Technology (IT) sector, working in the US is a cherished dream. One of the most significant policy reliefs for India under the Biden Administration is a liberalised work visa regime for immigrants. The importance of it can be gauged by the fact that whenever Indian leaders met their US counterparts, the immigration policy was one of the topics discussed as during the Donald Trump regime, immigration, trade and human rights remained sore issues. The former President made it difficult for immigrants to enter the US and on trade issues, too, he was not willing to concede. However, Indo-US ties thrived at other levels during the Trump Administration.
On the other hand, fulfilling his campaign promise, Biden sent a comprehensive Immigration Bill to the US Congress on his first day in office. The US Citizenship Act, 2021, statement eliminates the per-country cap for job-based green cards, among other relief measures. The Bill also proposes to grant legal status and a path to citizenship to about 11 million undocumented immigrants, including 1.7 million Indians. The new visa regime will help US tech companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft recruit many IT professionals from India.
The new Bill also clears immigration backlogs and makes it easier for students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields to study and stay in the US. It also increases the diversity visa programme from 55,000 visas to 80,000 per year. Despite doubts in South Block, Biden has been a supporter of India all through. Even as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and later as Vice-President, Biden supported New Delhi. He also endorsed the Indo–US Nuclear Bill in 2008. In any case, there is bipartisan support for India from both Republicans and Democrats. Experts believe that right from battling with Covid-19 to re-building the shattered economy, the Biden regime will help India.
Biden has a much broader vision of the role of the Indo-American community. Courting the diaspora during the presidential campaign, Biden said, “Our Government will reflect the diversity of the US and Indian American voices will be included in shaping the policies that impact their communities.” He also came up with a unique policy paper on Indian Americans, the first time any presidential hopeful ever did. True to his promise, Biden has nominated at least 20 Americans of Indian origin, including 13 women, to key positions in his Administration. New Delhi has been watching the change of regime closely and the new administration has already sent positive signals.
Key US officials have begun talking to their Indian counterparts in the last two weeks. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, reiterating their strategic partnership commitment. The US sees a significant role for India in countering China. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the new US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about strengthening military ties. The two sides have pledged to work closely on other areas like terrorism, maritime security, cyber security, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. While the Biden Administration has sent positive vibes, Democrats will closely scrutinise the Modi Government's handling of minorities, tensions in Kashmir and alleged violations of human rights. However, experts say that criticism, if any, might be nuanced now that Biden is in office. Diplomacy between the two countries has come a long way in the last two decades, particularly after the liberalisation of the Indian economy. South Block believes that Indo–US ties will be strengthened further during the Biden Administration.
(The writer is a senior journalist. The views expressed are personal.)
