GLOBAL GOENKAR SPEAKS
LONDON
The recent deportation of two Goan youths who were caught by US authorities while attempting to illegally cross the Mexico-US border, has evoked strong reactions among Goans across the world.
While many have sympathised with the deported Goans, the manner in which they were deported to India and after being threatened and robbed, others have been critical of illegal attempts to migrate to the US and felt they deserved to be deported.
To understand why deportation is a major issue for US President Donald Trump, we need to see the larger picture of his plan: Make America Great Again (MAGA).
ILLEGAL MIGRATION
One of the big issues facing the US is the mountain of debt confronting the US (a $37tr debt against a GDP of $27tr). Reducing, or at best flattening, the debt along with tackling a trade deficit of over $120bn per annum will need manufacturing to be brought back home, trade tariffs threats to be wielded and trade agreements to be carefully managed – all of which will take good few years.
But Trump is seeking some quick wins. Ukraine and Gaza may be of little interest to a local voter deep in a remote mid-west state. Trump needs some easy pickings of low-lying fruit to demonstrate that he can deliver for America – and what better option than the illegal immigration problem.
Woven into the fabric of society, many migrants are employed in the agriculture, hospitality and petrol forecourt sectors, some of which, pay well below the minimum wage (c. $10.25 per hour) that result in millions of incorrect wage reports and billions in lost tax revenue. Adding further costs to educate children of ‘unauthorised’ (aka illegal or undocumented) immigrants costs upwards of $30 billion per annum.
It is estimated that there are well over 770,000 Indians residing illegally in the US, of a total of well over 11 million illegal immigrants. The situation, in short and as it stands, is untenable. The US Government has had to act, and though the necessary action is delayed, there is very little choice. According to US Border Security, deportations is the only recourse for the US.
DEPORTATIONS
Over the last six years, there have been over 15,000 illegal immigrants deported from the US back to India, but none has evoked stronger feelings amongst our Goans than the two young men who arrived from the US in a C-17 military aircraft in handcuffs, shackles and under very poor conditions.
But what I cannot understand is why would anyone risk their lives on such a perilous journey in the first place, especially given the numerous options they otherwise have?
First and foremost, they could apply for a visa to the USA, and though it may take some time, it is not impossible to obtain a visa based on ‘Family ties’, ‘Employment’ and other legal options.
Next, if Goans were/are seeking a different life, they could easily use their Portuguese passport and make their way to Europe. Most EU countries welcome people who have a skill to offer and can speak English. Furthermore, Portuguese citizens can travel freely to the US and Canada for work under the visa waiver option. Optionally, Indians can apply for work in the UK directly from India through the UK skills programme – though I must add that this is not an option without its own challenges.
Finally, and as a consideration, why not just stay in Goa? What is the attraction of the American Dream that is so lacking in Goa? This, I suppose, is a topic for another day.
The world is continuously changing. Opportunities will come by as quickly as they go. Whatever one does, just remember that risking one’s precious life is simply not worth it.
[The writer is a socio-economic commentator based in the UK.]
