News Summary
- On May 21, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a new policy tightening the “Adjustment of Status” process related to green card applications.
- The West Bengal government in India has established holding centers in Malda and Murshidabad targeting illegal immigrants with an expulsion policy.
- On May 26, 2026, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs formed a high-level committee chaired by former Justice P.P. Naolekar to study unnatural demographic changes nationwide.
Despite vast geographical and cultural differences, both the United States and West Bengal, India, are currently witnessing similar political developments centered on immigration opposition. While the future is uncertain for millions of lawful Indian immigrants in the U.S., West Bengal’s campaign against illegal ‘intruders’ has created instability, notably within the Muslim community.
The third week of May 2026 was a critical and distressing time for millions of Indians residing in the U.S. On May 21, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new policy memorandum, “PM-602-0199,” tightening regulations on the ‘Adjustment of Status’ process used for green card applications.
According to the 1940 Nationality Act and the 1952 Immigration Act, this Adjustment of Status procedure has long been the primary means of securing permanent residency (a green card) in the U.S. However, under the new rule, foreign nationals on temporary visas must return to their home countries to apply for permanent residency.
Applicants will then complete the interview process from abroad. USCIS spokesperson Jack Kahler stated, “Except under extraordinary circumstances, foreign nationals residing temporarily in the U.S. who seek green cards must return to their home country to apply.”
One key statistic underscores the impact of this shift: In 2024, the U.S. issued 1.4 million green cards, over 800,000 of which were approved through the Adjustment of Status process within the country. Currently, most green card holders in the U.S. applied through this route. The number of applicants applying from overseas is comparatively small. The policy change most significantly impacts H-1B visa holders from India, who number over one million in the employment-based green card waiting list, with some waiting for decades.
Green card holders become eligible for U.S. citizenship only after obtaining permanent residency. Just four days after the policy announcement, on May 24, USCIS faced extensive criticism and pressure, leading to clarifications.
Kahler told Newsweek, “Applicants who bring economic benefits and serve national interests may continue under the current process.” While this offers some reassurance, ambiguity remains due to the lack of clear definitions for ‘economic benefit’ and ‘national interest.’
Houston immigration attorney Steven Brown described the policy as “Fire, Ready, Aim”—meaning it was announced first, responses were monitored, and improvements were attempted later.
Previously, attempts to increase H-1B visa fees faced backlash and were withdrawn. Similarly, this green card policy change has put thousands of working families in unexpected, difficult situations.
Rubio’s India Visit and Diplomatic Strain
U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio visited India from May 23 to 26, 2026, touring Kolkata, Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. He arrived in Kolkata hours before the Trump administration’s new green card rules took effect.
At a joint press conference in Delhi, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concern over the stricter U.S. visa policies, noting increased challenges for legitimate travelers seeking visas.
Rubio stated that these changes were not targeted at any country but part of global ‘modernization.’ He noted that around 20 million people had entered the U.S. illegally in recent years and resolving this crisis was in the national interest.
He also highlighted agreements for Indian companies to invest $20 billion in the U.S. market and India’s plan to import $500 billion worth of goods from the U.S. over the next five years.
During the visit, independent journalist Kadambini Sharma questioned Rubio about contributions of Indian students, engineers, and doctors to the U.S. economy. Rubio reiterated that U.S. visa policies were not directed at India. While he dismissed anti-Indian comments online as “foolish remarks,” the U.S. State Department later removed this statement from social media.
It is important to note that External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has worked on these sensitive issues since Trump’s first administration, often placing the Indian government in diplomatically awkward positions.
Frisco, Texas: Allegations of ‘Takeover’ and Politics of Hate
Frisco, Texas, has become a focal point of anti-Indian sentiment. From a population of 33,000 in 2000, it has grown to over 245,000 by 2026, with one in five residents being of Indian origin.
Although many Indian residents support Trump, some city council meetings feature opponents labeling the Indian community with derogatory terms such as ‘invaders,’ ‘anchor babies,’ ‘H-1B visa fraud,’ and accusing them of an ‘Indian takeover’ of Frisco.
Republican Texas State Representative Brandon Gill remarked, “Communities like Frisco have changed completely. Being in these areas feels like living in a foreign country, and that’s a problem. America is for our own people.”
Controversies have also arisen over temple construction and cultural presence, with some locals questioning, “What is our Texan culture? How can we accept another temple?” Temples, Indian restaurants, and cultural centers are increasingly viewed as symbols of ‘erosion of American culture.’
In a podcast, Texas state senator labeled Indians as bringing ‘racism and idol worship,’ advocating ending the H-1B visa program and prioritizing U.S. citizens for jobs.
Right-wing activist Laura Loomer actively opposes the H-1B visa program and praised India during Rubio’s visit, highlighting internal contradictions within U.S. right-wing politics.
California’s Bay Area: Indian Community Between Success and Uncertainty
The Indian-American community is significantly large in California’s Bay Area, especially in Fremont. The population grew from only 18,000 in 1980 to over 400,000 in 2024—a 104% increase, surpassing growth of the Chinese community.
Fremont is home to 69,258 Indian-origin individuals, constituting 30.31% of its total population. As of 2023, California had approximately 925,000 Indian-based residents—a 50% rise since 2013.
Fremont’s mayor Raj Salwan is of Punjabi origin, and Representative Ro Khanna supports the region in the U.S. Congress. Indian temples, gurudwaras, cricket, and Hindi classes have become integral to local life.
However, this cultural presence has caused unease among some locals. A survey by the San Francisco Chronicle indicated rising hate against the South Asian community.
Online Hate and Its Real-Life Impact
Videos spreading hate against Indians have grown on social media platforms like former Twitter ‘X.’ According to Stop AAPI Hate, there was a 600% increase in arrests of Asian immigrants in New York during Trump’s second term.
Online rhetoric blurs distinctions between legal and illegal immigrants, mixing concerns. Similar to anti-Muslim online hate in India, the Indian community in the U.S. faces direct consequences from such online campaigns.
Data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows that 17,940 Indians currently face deportation orders in the U.S., with an average of 90,000 Indians prevented from illegal entry annually over the past three years.
Despite the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) being enacted in December 2019, which grants citizenship to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, Muslims remain excluded.
Economic Contributions of Indian Immigrants
Though Indians constitute only 1.5% of the U.S. population, they contribute 5 to 6% of total income tax revenue. Legendary Indians pay between $25 and $30 billion annually in taxes. Their contributions in technology, engineering, research, finance, and healthcare are considered unparalleled.
However, the recent U.S. policy changes put their future in jeopardy. Some analysts warn these changes may disadvantage the U.S. amid competition with China and Russia, potentially weakening American innovation capacity in the long term.
‘Identify, Remove, Deport’ Policy in West Bengal
Thousands of kilometers away in India’s West Bengal, the state government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, is rolling out a campaign to ‘identify, remove, and deport’ illegal immigrants. Holding centers have been set up in Malda and Murshidabad to detain and expel illegal immigrants.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has directed rapid deportation of Bangladeshi nationals and ordered government action. Nine Bangladeshis are currently in holding in Malda and two in Murshidabad.
Following the implementation of this policy, many Bangladeshis in North 24 Parganas district are lining up to cross into Nepal. The campaign has primarily spread fear and insecurity among the Muslim community.
Critics warn that these centers may mirror Assam’s Foreigners’ Tribunals, which have been criticized for wrongful identifications and harming citizens.
The case of Sunali Khatun from Birbhum, identified as Bangladeshi and deported in 2025, only to be brought back following Supreme Court intervention, exemplifies the dangers involved.
Central Government Forms Demographic Change Study Committee
On May 26, 2026, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah announced the formation of a high-level committee, headed by former Supreme Court Justice P.P. Naolekar, to investigate unnatural demographic changes across the country.
Amit Shah described illegal immigration and unnatural demographic shifts as current and future challenges for the nation. The committee’s formation follows Prime Minister Modi’s August 15, 2025 speech, where he referred to ‘intrusion’ as a deliberate conspiracy to alter the country’s demography.
This move formalizes the longstanding ideological stance of the RSS and BJP, linking illegal immigration from Bangladesh and differing birth rates among communities as interconnected issues.
Documentation Burden and Politics of Fear
The 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) opened citizenship pathways for non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, excluding Muslims. This has led to millions being excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercises in Assam and the purge of large numbers of Muslim voters in Special Summary Revision (SSR) voter list reviews.
Critics view SSR as a measure to disenfranchise Muslim and Christian voters. Prime Minister Modi has commented that opposition to these measures aims to protect illegal immigrants.
The Supreme Court is preparing for a final hearing on the constitutionality of CAA in May 2026. Meanwhile, fear has risen in West Bengal’s Muslim population over demands for documentation, mirroring fears among Indian visa holders in the U.S. facing ICE enforcement.
Similar Political Frameworks in Both Countries
These developments in the U.S. and India reveal a common theme: the blurred lines between ‘illegal immigrants’ and ‘intruders,’ with no clear boundaries in practice.
While the U.S. acknowledges the existence of thousands of illegal Indian immigrants—some of whom supported Trump—the legal immigrants who have contributed to America’s development are now facing harsh circumstances. This is an international political paradox.
In India, Muslims have become the primary targets of anti-intrusion politics, which increasingly focuses on divisions between cow protection and Muslim communities, indicating a need for long-term solutions.
Though Rubio dismissed online hate as ‘foolish remarks,’ its offline impact endures. Just as online hostility toward Muslims in India has led to violence, anti-Indian online narratives in the U.S. are translating into real-world social consequences.
