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    Senior Member Judy's Avatar
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    With Trump Set to Meet Narendra Modi, Many U.S. Indians Are Hopeful

    With Trump Set to Meet Narendra Modi, Many U.S. Indians Are Hopeful

    By AVANTIKA CHILKOTI
    JUNE 25, 2017

    JERSEY CITY — With Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India set to meet President Trump on Monday for the first time, many Indians in communities like this one have had high hopes for the relationship between the two leaders — both of whom swept to power as media-savvy political outsiders pledging to revive their national economies.

    In a string of storefronts here in “Little India” that pay tribute to Hindu deities, Yogi Patel, 52, runs the Laxmi Pan Center, which is named after the goddess of wealth and sells a betel nut breath freshener. He has lived in the United States for 32 years and is a strong supporter of Mr. Trump.

    “Trump is doing the right thing. He’s doing good for U.S. citizens and America,” he said, switching between English and Hindi to explain that he grew up in Gujarat, the state that Mr. Modi led as chief minister before the 2014 election. “And I am from both countries.”

    But as Mr. Trump has tried to crack down on immigration and withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement, singling India out as a country that has gained unfairly from the accord, the meeting of the two leaders with nationalist leanings and sizable social media followings has taken on a more complicated tone for others in the Indian diaspora.

    Mr. Trump is “a little bit unpredictable,” said Vasudev Patel, who voted for Mr. Trump and is the secretary of the Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party, USA, Mr. Modi’s party. “Nobody knows when he will make what comment. And the next day he will say he didn’t say that. He’s like an Indian politician.”

    Of the roughly three million people of Indian descent in the United States, 65 percent are Democrats or lean Democratic, according to a 2012 survey by the Pew Research Center. But on both sides of the debate, political analysts say last year’s election has ignited a wave of political engagement among Indians in the United States, and that is also driving interest in this week’s meeting.

    “Most immigrants who come are really trying to make a life for themselves and their families. They’re really concerned about the mortgage on the house, the papers to get their green card, family back at home,” said Devesh Kapur, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and an author of “The Other One Percent: Indians in America.”

    “This has now become a wake-up call that they cannot stand as aloof,” he added.

    The diaspora in the United States sees itself as a wealthy and powerful segment of the population, with Indian-born business leaders, including Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Google’s Sundar Pichai, rising to prominence in recent years.

    The median income of an Indian-American household is $88,000, well above the $49,800 average for the United States as a whole, according to the Pew survey. And 38 percent of Indian-Americans have advanced degrees, compared with just 10 percent of the rest of the United States population.

    “Indian-Americans or Indians here are politically active,” said Tanvi Madan, the head of the India Project at the Brookings Institution. “They are in the policy space. They have integrated in a substantial way. You see them on prime-time television show and in sports.”

    Both Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump have made efforts to woo the migrant community.

    Weeks before the election last year, Mr. Trump visited another Indian community in New Jersey, where he proclaimed that the two countries would be “best friends.” Mr. Modi, once barred from the United States on allegations surrounding the deaths of hundreds of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002, held a rally for 19,000 people at Madison Square Garden on his first trip to the United States shortly after taking office.

    The Indian prime minister’s meeting with the diaspora on Sunday in Washington was relatively low key.

    Those in the crowd, like Srujal Parikh, the executive vice president at the Federation of Indian Associations, were eager to voice specific concerns before Mr. Modi’s visit to the White House.

    Some are concerned about the relationship between the two countries after Mr. Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement. Others want the prime minister to address the Trump’s administration’s anti-immigrant comments and its tough stance on visas for skilled workers.

    “I myself am an immigrant, so I always think this country is built on immigration,” said Mr. Parikh, a Democrat. “These are the people that bring the country up or down.”

    “We must be talking about the immigration issue. We must be talking about how they can make a bridge between the two countries.”

    Tensions ran particularly high this year when two Indian engineers were shot, one fatally, at a Kansas bar. The white suspect was indicted on federal hate crime charges.

    Rai Das, 24, who works at a small Indian restaurant in Little India, talks of feeling scared lately while walking the streets of New York.

    “There is some sort of wave going on,” said Ms. Das, who moved to the United States two years ago to study data analysis. “I don’t know why, but people are discriminating.”

    Yet Kiran Sethi, 52, the owner of Reema Jewelers across the street from the restaurant, was so torn by last year’s vote that she did not cast a ballot, despite being a Democratic supporter in the past. She believes the new administration will do more to create jobs for her two daughters, who earned college degrees in the United States and are looking for work.

    “When I see them sitting at home for six months, I feel their pain,” said Ms. Sethi, adding that Indian Americans are a “well respected” part of American society. “Do you know how hard we work? We try our best that our kids go to school and get a good education.”

    This week’s meeting could rest mostly on personal rapport. The two men may seem to have a lot in common, but Mr. Modi’s asceticism stands in stark contrast to Mr. Trump’s flamboyant style.

    Still, both leaders ushered in the meeting by posting on Twitter. As he landed in the United States, Mr. Modi tweeted his thanks to the president for his “warm personal welcome,” while Mr. Trump referred to the Indian leader as a “true friend.”

    From his pan shop in Little India, Mr. Patel remained optimistic.

    “Their mind-set is the same,” he said, batting away concerns as he took an oversize stick of sugar cane to the juicer. “Modi does good for India, and he’s thinking of the public there. And Trump is the same here.”
    Correction: June 25, 2017

    An earlier version of this article misstated the title of a member of the Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party, USA. Vasudev Patel is the secretary, not the president.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/25/u...ite-house.html
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  2. #2
    Senior Member Judy's Avatar
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    Americans are hopeful that this crap of importing foreign workers to replace American Workers and outsourcing American jobs to India, comes to an end. We have to stop this nonsense that is draining jobs away from Americans, stealing money out of our country, depressing the wages of jobs not stolen or shipped out of the country leaving our people unemployed and on the dole. The US population should only be about 250 million. At 250 million, we would have sustainable jobs and almost no poverty, we would have savings and low debt, everyone could afford a nice health insurance policy or work for a company that offers it as a company benefit, our federal and state budgets would easily balance, and we wouldn't be operating on deficits and national debt like some third world Banana Republic.

    So I trust these meets and greets end soon and the world understands, we're not taking it any more. If you want to be welcome in our country, then you better not be coming here to steal our jobs and livelihoods. America is not for you, it's for US, just as India is not for US, it is for you. And I'm not picking on India, this is the same for any country, Mexico, China, UK, Canada, Russia, any and all. We're full to the brim with foreign entrants into the United States to take up shop here. Beneficial trade and business, sure, fine. Diplomatic and tourism, sure, great!! But to come here to live, there is no place here, we're full to the brim and our pot is boiling over. We want no more people moving into our country. We do not have the resources, the jobs or anything else to accommodate you without hurting an American. It's just that simple.
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    Senior Member Judy's Avatar
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    Trump meets Modi: Trade, visas and climate could make for tough talking

    by Rishi Iyengar
    June 25, 2017: 12:52 PM ET

    Trump threatens Indian engineers' American Dream

    Nearly six months after he took office, President Trump will welcome Narendra Modi to the White House on Monday.

    The Indian prime minister represents one of the world's fastest growing major economies and a market that American companies are eager to crack. His meeting with Trump will be preceded by one with several top U.S. CEOs.

    Despite the obvious opportunity, the relationship is tense and the talks may not be easy.

    Here are three thorny issues that could make for an uncomfortable visit.

    Immigration

    Indians are the top beneficiaries of one of the United States' most popular work visas, the H-1B. They account for about 70% of the visas awarded annually, most of them going to workers from India's $150 billion tech industry.

    But the H-1B visa has become a very sensitive subject under Trump, who has repeatedly accused tech companies in the U.S. of using the program to replace Americans with cheaper foreign workers.

    His "Buy American, Hire American" executive order in April called for a comprehensive review of H-1B visas. The prospect of change is making Indian outsourcing firms increasingly nervous.

    Modi will likely reiterate his government's view that Indian techies are needed to address America's skills shortage, but criticism of the H-1B program goes way beyond Trump.

    "This issue has always been complicated between the U.S. and India," said Alyssa Ayres, a former State Department official and now a South Asia analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations.

    "Trump actually is reflecting a view that I think is fairly widely held... that the present structure of the H-1B program is no longer working as it was designed to work," she said.

    'America First' or 'Make in India'

    Since taking office in 2014, Modi has been trying to boost India's manufacturing industry, under a program called "Make in India." His government has been encouraging foreign companies to set up production locations in the country, and many -- including several top U.S. firms -- have done so.

    Apple recently began assembling iPhones in India, while defense manufacturing giant Lockheed Martin (LMT) will make and export F-16 fighter jets from the country if it wins a big order from the Indian Air Force. Ford said in November that it will be the first automaker to import vehicles to the U.S. from India -- starting in 2018.

    The potential for a clash between "Make in India" and Trump's pledge to put "America First" by bringing jobs and manufacturing back to the U.S. is obvious. While Trump has criticized other big trading partners such as Mexico, China and Germany, he has not yet called out India, barring a veiled reference to import duties on Harley Davidson that the motorcycle giant doesn't actually pay.

    "India's off the radar screen a little bit for some of those kinds of issues," Ayres said.

    That could change very quickly. Trump's goal of reducing America's trade deficit could soon place India -- which has a $24 billion trade surplus with the U.S. -- in the crosshairs.

    "We do expect Trump to raise concerns with the U.S.-India trade deficit," Eurasia Group analysts Shailesh Kumar and Sasha Riser-Kositsky wrote in a research note this week. "He will prod Modi to further open India's markets and pursue policies that support greater imports."

    Modi is unlikely to commit to relaxing import restrictions further, they added.

    Climate change

    This may not be on the formal agenda but forms part of the tense backdrop against which the meeting is taking place. India, along with China, is now aiming to lead the world into a more sustainable future after the U.S. withdrew from the Paris climate agreement earlier this month.

    Trump called out India while announcing that decision, slamming the country for apparently demanding "billions" in foreign aid for signing the agreement. India hit back, saying there was "absolutely no reality" in his claim.

    While Trump has pledged to bring jobs back to the U.S. coal industry, Modi's government has set ambitious renewable energy targets -- including a pledge to sell only electric cars by 2030.

    But some experts think that the two countries have a golden opportunity to set aside these differences.

    "India's future plans to advance on electric cars and pursue greater sustainability will require digital innovations and partnerships," said Arun Agrawal, a professor of environment at the University of Michigan. "Those who care about climate change and sustainability will be excited about Prime Minister Modi's visit to the U.S."

    CNNMoney (New Delhi) First published June 25, 2017: 12:52 PM ET

    http://money.cnn.com/2017/06/25/news...ate/index.html
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    Senior Member Scott-in-FL's Avatar
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    Trump threatens Indian engineers' American Dream
    I certainly hope so! I spent more than a decade in an IT department that saw rapid, then slow trickling of outsourcing to India. They left a skeleton crew of Americans back in the U.S. More or less token Americans. The work environment was one of fear, stress and generally depressed, because there was always the sneaking suspicion your project or team could be outsourced next. Although, I wasn't directly affected by the companies goal to increase their bottom line, it left me very angry and frustrated with the situation. There is no loyalty to the American employees.

    I know it's not the Indian employees fault for any of this, but I kind of cringe when I read about Indians in IT. Just seeing Indian names, brings back all the memories of the heartache my fellow employees had to endure, while they trained there replacements. I sat next to them. Seeing their lives torn apart. Outsourcing to India, to me, was so un-American. Why help India. But because their salaries are so much lower than ours, it's impossible to compete.

    My company built their own campus in India and hired directly. I don't see how this type of outsourcing can be stopped. Hopefully, Trump will follow through on curtailing H-1B.
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  5. #5
    Senior Member Judy's Avatar
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    What's been going on in our country is disgusting, the names of the good people whose lives these awful visa and immigration policies have ruined would fill the border wall on both sides.
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    Trump and Modi reaffirm Indian-US relations with a hug

    By Steve George, CNN
    Updated 3:06 AM ET, Tue June 27, 2017

    Story highlights

    Two leaders issued a joint statement after first face-to-face meeting
    Trump: Relations have "never been better"

    (CNN)The first face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sealed with a bear hug Monday, as the two leaders looked to publicly underscore their new found friendship.

    Speaking after their meeting in the White House Rose Garden, Trump recalled his previous campaign pledge, that if elected, India would have a true friend in the White House. "And that is now exactly what you have -- a true friend," said Trump.

    Declaring the meeting a success, Trump went on to describe the relationship between India and the United States as having "never been stronger, has never been better."

    Trump also took time to praise Modi's Twitter prowess, we are "world leaders in social media," said Trump, who has 32.8 million followers on his personal Twitter account, compared to Modi's 31 million followers.

    Modi meanwhile, described his White House visit as being "filled with friendliness" from the "opening tweet to the end of our talks."

    Thorny issues

    The apparently jovial tone was in contrast to what had been predicted to be a tough meeting.

    Both Trump and Modi have tried to boost domestic manufacturing in their own country.

    Modi, under a program titled "Make in India," has been looking for foreign companies to set up production in India. That runs counter to Trump's "America First" messaging, where Trump is looking to punish American companies who ship jobs and production overseas.

    Trump's "Buy American, Hire American" executive order, signed in April, overhauled the H-1B visa program primarily used by Indian engineers and developers.

    While, earlier this month, Trump singled out India during his announcement declaring the United States' withdrawal from the Paris
    Agreement on Climate Change.

    Trump accused India of receiving "billions" of dollars in return for signing the accord, an allegation that India strongly refuted.

    A joint statement issued by both leaders did not mention either issues directly, and instead focused on the two leaders' pledge to "expand and deepen the strategic partnership between the countries and advance common objectives" by providing "strong leadership to address global challenges."

    Seeking to downplay concerns, Modi suggested the economic growth was not a zero-sum game. "India's interests lie in a strong, and prosperous, and successful America," said Modi during their press briefing. "In the same way, India's development and its growing role at the international level are in the USA's interest."

    Elements of the Indian media will undoubtedly play this as a largely successful visit, said CNN's India bureau Chief, Ravi Agrawal. "Fears that Trump would not be an ally to India, like at least three of his predecessors, have proved unfounded."

    Policy Movements

    The White House did not provide a detailed account of the meeting, however, the statement did make several references to Pakistan, notably a call for the country to "ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries," and to "bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot, and other cross-border terrorist attacks."

    Prior to the meeting, senior US administration officials said Trump was aware of the delicate balance with India and Pakistan, but would look to treat the 1.3 billion person country like the defense ally it is: "I want to make a point here that US relationships with India and Pakistan really stand on their own merits and terms," a senior administration official said.

    While the Trump administration hopes to "deepen" its relationship with India, the official added that they are "also interested in continuing our cooperation with Pakistan" and are "concerned about tensions between Indian and Pakistan."

    The official joint statement also announced increased cooperation to "prevent terrorist travel and to disrupt global recruitment efforts by expanding intelligence-sharing and operational-level counterterrorism cooperation." Such moves are likely to be welcomed by US foreign policy chiefs, who have underlined the need for additional information sharing in the ongoing fight against ISIS.

    Regional issues

    Monday's meeting pointed to other regional security concerns, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of Indian-US relations in helping to stabilize Afghanistan. "Both India and America have played an important role in rebuilding Afghanistan and ensuring its security," read the statement. "In order to attain our objectives for peace and stability in Afghanistan, we will maintain close consultation and communication with the US to enhance coordination between our two nations."

    The two leaders also "strongly condemned" continued provocations by North Korea "emphasizing that its destabilizing pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programs poses a grave threat to regional security and global peace," according to the statement.
    In May this year, India halted all trade except for food and medicine with North Korea. Prior to the ban, India had been North Korea's second largest trading partner after China. India exported $111 million worth of goods in 2015-2016 to North Korea, and imported about $88 million, according to Indian government data.

    What's next

    Monday's White House visit was Modi's fifth trip to the US since becoming prime minister in 2014.

    Unlike the feverish anticipation over past meetings between Modi and former President Barack Obama, expectations for Modi's relationship had been lukewarm.

    However, the Indian Prime Minister appeared determined to bolster relations, at one point, inviting the President's daughter Ivanka Trump "to India for the Entrepreneurship Summit," scheduled for later this year.

    Addressing Trump directly, Modi offered his "deep appreciation" for the President's "strong commitment to the enhancement of our bilateral relations."

    "Be assured that in this joint journey of our two nations towards development, growth and prosperity, I will remain a driven, determined, and decisive partner," said Modi.

    http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/27/politi...-us/index.html
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