Rama Krishna Sangem
US President Donald Trump is sending shivers down spine of countries around the world, through his tariff threats. But, back home in America, his approval ratings are down below 42 per cent, lowest for any President on his first 100 days in office. It is a usual practice in the US to measure a new President’s performance on their first 100 days. Trump who came to office last November with a massive majority has fallen badly, due to his policies – tariffs, trade and immgration.
April 30 marks 100 days since US President Donald Trump took office for the second time. In this short span, his administration has introduced sweeping changes to the country’s immigration system, reshaping border enforcement, legal migration, humanitarian pathways and visa rules. While the focus has been on restricting entry and stepping up deportations, there are some pro-immigration proposals too, though they remain limited and largely unimplemented.
“Trump’s policies seem to be a blend of economic priorities and stringent immigration reform. While there are opportunities for highly skilled Indian professionals and students with advanced degrees, the environment remains challenging for those not aligned with specific labour market needs,” Prashant Ajmera, immigration lawyer at Ajmera Law Group told Business Standard.
Ajmera pointed to sectors like artificial intelligence, renewable energy and healthcare as offering relatively secure pathways. “Strategic education and career planning are now more important than ever,” he said.
Many of the administration’s decisions have already landed in court. Some measures to restrict university grants and student visas have been stayed. For example, the F-1 visa programme — which had initially faced suspension — was reinstated following judicial intervention.
“One of my clients, whose F-1 visa was affected, was called back to submit her passport. Her visa will be reissued, and she can now resume her studies,” said Ajmera.
Even where reforms may be necessary, Ajmera said extreme measures have backfired. “The system is resilient. Aspirants must stay vigilant and adaptive,” he said.
Merit and routine gaps
“Trump’s first 100 days have created mixed outcomes for Indian immigrants and students,” Aurelia Menezes, partner at King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys told Business Standard. According to Menezes, there are two student-focused opportunities under discussion:
A green card for graduates — intended to retain skilled talent. A merit-based immigration system — prioritising employability and education. “The green card policy is more concrete. The merit-based model is still being advocated, but we don’t know how or when it may take shape,” she said.
Alongside these, several restrictions are already being felt:
Mandatory identity documents for all immigrants in the US, with risk of deportation or detention for non-compliance. Limits on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM extensions, which many students use to gain work experience and transition to H-1B. Shortened visa durations to four years, causing uncertainty for PhD and graduate students. Growing visa denials, requests for evidence, and delays for H-1B and H-4 holders, affecting families that rely on dual incomes
It feels more like a crackdown than a reform. For many, it’s proving to be a bane rather than a boon,” said Menezes.
Gold card @ 5 million replaces EB-5
The administration has floated a new “Gold Card” programme that would offer permanent residency to wealthy foreign investors willing to invest at least $5 million. This is being considered as a replacement for the EB-5 investor visa, which currently requires an investment of $800,000 to $1.05 million, depending on location and project
It is clear that most Americans are not convinced with Trump’s measures to bridge US trade deficit. They fear that these crude measures will lead to inflation and slowdown of the economy in the long run. Though Trump is of the view that these pains are short term and will benefit the country in the long run, a majority of people are focusing only immediate consequences of his policies.
