Sir — This refers to the editorial, “looking inward on H1-B” (February 2). Slowly but surely, the largely-unknown Trump factor is unfolding for India and Indians. Until recently, it was essentially election rhetoric, but now US President Donald Trump is in the active mode of implementing some of his key promises, which are defined by his slogan, ‘America First’.
Inevitably, apprehensions run side-by-side with new hopes. The H-1B visa programme is facing the political guillotine once again. The visa programme, designed to let US firms import highly-skilled workers to temporarily fill in workforce gaps, had been under sustained attack from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
In keeping with Trump’s record of fulfilling his campaign promises, it is no surprise that an executive order to restrict H-1B visas is in the offing. The US President is not alone. Four separate anti-H visa Bills have been introduced in the US Congress. Is it time that the Government should consider how to entice more highly-skilled Indians to give up on their American dream and return homeIJ