The outcome of the 2024 US elections will have a huge impact on global geopolitics, which will also impact India.

Changes to U.S. immigration laws and/or policies under the new regime will be of significant importance to Indian businesses and individuals. In this article, we compare each candidate’s different approaches as gathered from information published by the Associated Press and the Council of Foreign Relations. We have also added a commentary on each question, as to what this means for Indian nationals and businesses.

Among the many areas that will be affected, a very important comparison is that between countries’ immigration policies Kamala Harris and Donald Trump for the 2024 elections.

Policy area – Border security

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Kamala Harris- Focuses on balanced enforcement, including addressing root causes of migration from Central America and strengthening border security measures. Advocates for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, particularly those brought to the United States as children.

Donald Trump – Insists on strict border control. Intends to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” program, which requires migrants to wait in Mexico while their asylum applications are processed. There are also plans to revive Title 42, a policy that curbed immigration for public health reasons.Potential impact on Indian businesses or individuals – Harris’ balanced approach, including pathways to citizenship, could bring stability and protection to Indian families residing in the United States. Conversely, Trump’s stricter border policies could create a more difficult environment, potentially leading to hardship for Indian businesses and individuals.Policy Domain – Pathway to Citizenship

Kamala Harris – Supports comprehensive immigration reform, including pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, particularly those with long-term ties to the United States, such as Deferred Action (DACA) recipients for Childhood Arrivals).

Donald Trump – Opposes new pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Instead, the focus is on reducing legal and illegal immigration and eliminating undocumented migrants through stricter policies.

Potential impact on Indian businesses or individuals – Harris’ approach could offer Indian families a more predictable path to legal residency and citizenship. In contrast, Trump’s policies could limit options for undocumented people, potentially affecting families who have resided in the United States for extended periods without legal status.

Policy area – Asylum policies

Kamala Harris – Projects to restore a more organized asylum procedure while increasing resources for border processing. Criticized past family separation policies.

Donald Trump – Plans to strengthen asylum criteria and restore previous restrictions, such as the “zero tolerance” policy that led to family separations.

Potential impact on Indian businesses or individuals – Harris’ policies could create a more humane approach, potentially making the system easier to navigate for Indian families facing immigration challenges. On the other hand, Trump’s criteria and past policies could lead to greater scrutiny, making it more difficult for Indians facing immigration problems.

Policy area – Legal immigration

Kamala Harris – Seeks reforms to simplify legal immigration pathways while addressing humanitarian needs and family reunification.

Donald Trump – Advocates for reducing legal immigration levels and implementing merit-based systems, with an emphasis on stricter controls and enhanced scrutiny for certain immigrant groups.

He supports limiting family immigration, which he describes as “chain migration.” There are also plans to eliminate the diversity visa lottery and implement merit-based systems to give preference to individuals with skills that match U.S. economic needs.

Potential impact on Indian businesses or individuals – Harris’ approach to simplifying legal immigration pathways and maintaining work visas could be favorable to Indian IT companies that rely heavily on the H-1B visa program to place skilled Indian professionals in the United States. A Trump-led government could increase visa denials and reduce opportunities for families. immigration-based immigration, impacting Indian nationals and businesses.

Policy Area – Mass Deportation and Law Enforcement

Kamala Harris – Focuses on targeted enforcement, aimed at combating drug and human trafficking while providing protections to certain groups. The focus is on deporting individuals who pose a threat to public safety, rather than targeting all undocumented immigrants.

Donald Trump – Promises large-scale deportation measures, aimed at carrying out one of the largest domestic deportation operations in U.S. history, using broad legal tools such as the Alien Enemies Act.

Potential impact on Indian businesses or individuals – Harris’ approach could keep Indian residents in the United States safe by focusing enforcement on criminal activity rather than broad deportations. In contrast, Trump’s large-scale deportation approach could create anxiety among Indians.

Kamala Harris’ approach focuses on balancing law enforcement and reform, emphasizing humanitarian pathways and addressing the causes of migration. Donald Trump, meanwhile, is focused on strict border control measures, expulsions and reducing legal and illegal immigration. We will soon know which direction U.S. immigration policy will be shaped when the election results are known. However, depending on the outcome, disputes could arise involving the electoral procedure or the integrity of electoral data. We have to wait and watch.

(This article is written based on publicly available information and some of the comments are the personal opinions of the author.)