Stricter regulations by the Donald Trump administration ensured fewer Indians moved to the United States on a green card during the two years leading up to 2018, data from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) revealed.
According to an Economic Times report, the 7.5% drop in legal immigration was in line with the overall decline of 7.3% seen during the period FY 2016 to FY 2018, the NFAP’s analysis of the Department of Homeland Security data said.
Recently released figures from the Department of Homeland Security showed legal immigration declining by almost 87,000, by more than 7%, between FY 2016 and FY 2018.
“Much of the decline in Indian immigrants coming to America in 2018 was due to fewer spouses, children and parents of US citizens gaining approval to immigrate,” Stuart Anderson, executive director, NFAP, said.
“That is due to administration policies that created more extensive vetting of applications, longer delays and more visa denials at US consulates,” he added.
The US government has tightened immigration norms, especially via policy changes, that have slowed down the pace at which green card petitions were granted. For instance, according to the public charge rule, any individual who is dependent on the government for cash aid or healthcare would not be eligible for citizenship.
This rule, if cleared, will put a large number of potential immigrants in a tight spot.
The total number of people who received lawful permanent resident status or green cards declined from 1,183,505 in FY 2016 to 1,096,611 in FY 2018, a drop of 86,894 or 7.3%.
