India in discussion with U.S. on DACA, H1B visa issues: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that India is in discussion with United States on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).

The MEA response came days after the U.S. President Donald Trump's administration sent an immigration policy wish list to Congress that threatens to derail efforts to protect hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from being deported.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the external affair minister Sushma Swarajraised the DACA and H1B visa issues during her meeting with U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson in New York.

"Most recently the issues of DACA and H1B visas were taken up by the External Affairs Minister (EAM) when she had a meeting with U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson In the New York on the sidelines of the UNGA," Kumar said.

"We are aware of the fact that around 8,000 Indians could be affected by the DACA policy so we strongly raised took the matter of DACA and H1B visas and we conveyed our position on the matters, " he added.

DACA is a federal government protection created by former President Barack Obama for people brought to the U.S. illegally as children. The program had provided two-year work permits to the 'dreamers' that President Trump has called "unconstitutional." The programme gives them temporary right to live, study and work in America, for a period of two years and renewable on expiry.

Kumar also said that the issues were also discussed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump during their meeting in Washington D.C.

The Trump administration wants tougher immigration and border security measures, crackdowns on sanctuary cities, green card restrictions and funding for the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall.