Let’s take a moment to delve into the political history of both major U.S. parties and how their policies have impacted India and Indian immigrants. While many Indian Americans tend to support the Democratic Party, it’s important to look at the historical relationship between both parties and India before forming an opinion. A closer examination reveals that Democrats have not always been pro-India, whereas Republicans have often shown a stronger alignment with Indian interests.

Historical Relations with India: Democrats vs. Republicans:

When we examine the history, it becomes clear that the Democratic Party has not always acted in India’s favor. Many of the sanctions imposed on India came during Democratic administrations. A key example is the 1998 sanctions following India’s nuclear tests, imposed by the Clinton administration. These sanctions severely affected India’s economy and global standing. In contrast, it was a Republican president, George W. Bush, who took significant steps to improve U.S.-India relations, most notably through the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement. This deal was a turning point, fostering economic cooperation, technological exchange, and defense collaboration between the two nations.

Republican administrations have consistently shown stronger support for India’s strategic and economic growth. President Donald Trump, for example, strengthened defense ties with India, supported India’s position in the Indo-Pacific region, and even recognized India’s concerns on global platforms. Under Republican leadership, the U.S. has often recognized India’s global significance, whereas Democratic policies in the past have leaned toward supporting Pakistan and other nations that were not always aligned with India’s interests.

Immigration Policies and Indian Immigrants:

Most Indian Americans come to the United States through legal means, primarily through education or employment-based visas. However, the Democratic Party has historically prioritized policies aimed at providing a path for undocumented immigrants, often sidelining the needs of legal immigrants like Indians. During the Obama administration, for instance, immigration reform largely focused on illegal immigration, while the backlog for Indian green cards continued to grow.

On the other hand, Republican administrations have focused on supporting legal immigration. The Trump administration, for example, pushed for reforms to streamline legal immigration, especially for high-skilled workers from countries like India. Trump’s focus on merit-based immigration was a step in the right direction for Indian professionals, many of whom wait years to obtain green cards. In fact, during Republican administrations, the backlog for Indian green cards tends to reduce, as more attention is given to legal immigrants over illegal ones.

It is under Democratic administrations, including the current Biden administration, that the backlog for Indian green cards has grown dramatically, largely due to the focus on undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers. This directly affects Indian families and professionals who follow the legal process and still face long wait times for permanent residency.

Republicans are Pro-India and Pro-Legal Immigration:

The Republican Party has a clear track record of supporting policies that benefit India and legal Indian immigrants. From promoting U.S.-India defense partnerships to advocating for fair and merit-based immigration policies, Republicans have shown a commitment to strengthening ties with India and helping Indian professionals and families in the U.S. Democrats, by contrast, have often focused more on policies that favor undocumented immigrants, leaving legal immigrants—especially from India—stuck in bureaucratic red tape and prolonged waiting periods for green cards.

Rethinking Political Support:

Given the facts, Indian Americans should carefully consider supporting the Republican Party, which has consistently been more pro-India and pro-legal immigration. Republicans have worked to strengthen U.S.-India relations, reduce green card backlogs for Indian immigrants, and promote policies that benefit Indian professionals and families. In contrast, Democrats have historically imposed sanctions on India and focused more on illegal immigration, which negatively impacts legal immigrants from India.

The time has come for Indian Americans to rethink their political support. By backing the Republican Party, Indian Americans can align themselves with a party that respects legal immigration, strengthens U.S.-India relations, and prioritizes policies that benefit both India and Indian communities in the United States.

A vegasdesi.com reader submitted the above article as a comment in response to the original article submitted by community leader Nirmalya Chatterjee. Below is the link to Chatterjee’s original article.