After crackdown, fate of US Punjabis hangs in balance

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 19

With US President Donald Trump adopting a tough stance against illegal immigrants, thousands of Indians who have applied for legal status are worried about their future. In November 2014, the then President Barack Obama had given temporary relief to 1.4 million illegal immigrants, telling them to apply for legal status.

Satnam Singh Chahal, president, North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), said that following this, around 4.5 lakh people had applied for legal status. After Mexicans, most number of people who applied for legal status were Indians, mainly Punjabis, he said. “Now, the fate of these people hangs in balance,” said Chahal.

As the relevant information is available with the US authorities regarding those who applied for legal status, there is likelihood that the authorities might act against such persons. Already, a good number of illegal migrants have been detained in New York.

He said his organisation had been telling all concerned to cooperate with the US authorities. He said Punjabis had a good rapport with the government at various levels and their help could be taken to sort out issues related to immigration.

Chahal said Punjabis leaving the US should not fill the form related to the voluntary surrendering of the green card.

“We are telling people that filling this form is optional. But at the time of leaving the US, the form is given to all green card holders. But they should fill it,” said Chahal.

“By filling the form, one gives undertaking to the authorities on voluntary surrender of green card,” he added.