India in dialogue with U.S. authorities post Trump's immigration order

In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that it took up the matter with Washington to ensure the welfare of Indian diaspora, adding that the Indian consulate is in dialogue with the concerned authorities there.

"Our Embassy and Consulates in the U.S. are in continuous dialogue with U.S. authorities and local Indian community groups to address any emergent issues relating to Indian Diaspora. GOI remains vigilant to developments impacting the lives of Indians in impact of orders on Indian Americans," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in Parliament.

Responding to a question on whether the government is aware of the executive order which puts undocumented Indian immigrants at the risk of deportation, she said New Delhi is aware of the executive order issued by the U.S. President which inter-alia directs agencies "to employ all lawful means to ensure the faithful execution of the immigration laws of the United States against all removable aliens."

Swaraj further said that the government does not encourage illegal migration of Indian citizens into other countries.

"When requested by U.S. enforcement authorities, Indian Embassy and Consulates in the U.S. facilitate issue of travel documents to undocumented Indians after due verification of nationality, to enable their safe return to India," she added.

After the original executive order titled 'Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States', was blocked by a federal ruling, the revised ban was announced this month and would have banned people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days.

Unlike the previous executive order, the revised one removed Iraq from the list of banned countries, exempted those with green cards and visas, and removed a provision that arguably prioritizes certain religious minorities.