US Election Results 2024: The day of reckoning has come. The counting is live in a historic presidential contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Electoral surveys across seven crucial states, also called Swing states, — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — suggest a close fight between Harris and Trump. There are various ways and things that the election of Donald Trump or Kamala Harris to US President may impact India and Indians. This includes areas like trade, immigration and more. One of the biggest things that may affect Indians is the stance of the duo on H-1B visa. For those unaware, an H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows employers to temporarily hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations in the United States. So, here’s who said what on H-1B visa:
Kamala Harris on H-1B visas and immigration
Harris has consistently advocated for more inclusive immigration policies. So it is likely that she would likely implement reforms aimed at expanding opportunities for immigrants and international students. Harris also supports expanded work authorisation for H-1B visa holders’ spouses. However, what she remains mum on are the matter of country-specific caps on green cards.
During her 2019 campaign, Harris endorsed lifting these caps, acknowledging that over 95% of green card applicants are from India, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam. There has been no change in this policy during Joe Biden’s tenure.
Donald Trump on H-1B visas and Green Card
Donald Trump’s first term saw attempts to restrict the H-1B visa programme by narrowing eligibility criteria and increasing scrutiny of applications. His re-election means more regulations, such as higher wage requirements for H-1B holders to ensure that these positions do not displace American workers. At the same time, in a surprising shift from his usual hardline stance on immigration, Trump expressed his desire to grant automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from US colleges. During an interview on the “All-In” podcast, in July, Trump said, “What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get a green card automatically as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country.” He extended this proposal to include graduates from two-year junior colleges and doctoral programs.
Trump’s changed stance is a boost for Indian students studying in US colleges. Trump further highlighted the loss of talent due to current visa policies, saying, “I know of stories where people graduated from a top college, or from a college, and they desperately want to stay here… and they can’t. They go back to India, they go back to China. They do the same basic company in those places and they become multibillionaires employing thousands and thousands of people.”