Since the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term in office, it has had non-American residents on target.
The U.S.’s crackdown on students, visitors and illegal immigrants is beginning to test America’s ties with the world. As the Trump administration rolls up the welcome mat, how will it affect U.S. soft power in the world, and what can countries like India do?
Since the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term in office, it has had non-American residents on target. While the government has thus far not criticized these moves—the pattern is getting harder to ignore, and the MEA made its first such statement this week.
The crackdown on students is part of a larger impact that the U.S. government’s actions are having on U.S. soft power:
1. Antagonising allies through claims on Greenland and Canada
2. Launching a global economic war with Tariffs
3. Stopping funding U.S. development projects abroad through agencies like USAID, whose budgets were slashed 83%
4. Immigration: the U.S. is clamping down on visa issuances, slowing naturalization processes, and reviewing categories of citizenship and visas, like birthright citizenship. Green card holders and tourists alike are facing issues when they enter the U.S. as well.
5. Universities and students are being targeted- this week the Trump administration said it would slash 2bn dollars in funding Harvard, other colleges are also in line. This means research grants and scholarship will be curtailed. In addition visa numbers are down- with a simple comparison of F-1 visas issued to students in February 2025 vs February 2024 showing a drop of 29.9%.
Some have likened this behaviour to that of China especially post 2010, and the resultant loss in its soft power.
Given the targeting of non-Americans includes large proportions of Indians, what are New Delhi’s options?
1. Say nothing, raise some issues behind closed doors and keep negotiating informally- the government says this is their strategy at present, whether it is for tariffs or students.
2. Offer legal support, counselling and advise for Indian students and others affected. At present the Indian Embassy websites in the U.S. have some details on emergency contacts, but no details on legal help.
3. The Indian government could issue travel advisories- this is normally seen as an unfriendly act, but the U.S and other countries frequently issue travel advisories for visitors to India. In the past month, countries like Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany and the U.K. have issued travel warnings for those going to the U.S., but New Delhi is yet to do so.
4. Make the welfare and safety of Indian students, who have their careers and future on the line, a bilateral issue for India-U.S. talks, and speak publicly about it. All eyes on whether the issue comes up next week, when U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials visit India. In an unlikely scenario, India could also apply strictures on U.S. visitors to India, suspend exchange programmes reciprocally.
5. The most extreme option would be for India to take its concerns internationally- raise it at UNESCO, Human Rights agencies, or International courts. Although visas and immigration are the sovereign right of any country, arbitrary illegal detentions and targeting of people based on ethnicity, race or religion can be challenged internationally.
Watch: U.S. crackdown on students | What are New Delhi’s options?
Since the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term in office, it has had non-American residents on target.
The U.S.’s crackdown on students, visitors and illegal immigrants is beginning to test America’s ties with the world. As the Trump administration rolls up the welcome mat, how will it affect U.S. soft power in the world, and what can countries like India do?
Since the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term in office, it has had non-American residents on target. While the government has thus far not criticized these moves—the pattern is getting harder to ignore, and the MEA made its first such statement this week.
The crackdown on students is part of a larger impact that the U.S. government’s actions are having on U.S. soft power:
1. Antagonising allies through claims on Greenland and Canada
2. Launching a global economic war with Tariffs
3. Stopping funding U.S. development projects abroad through agencies like USAID, whose budgets were slashed 83%
4. Immigration: the U.S. is clamping down on visa issuances, slowing naturalization processes, and reviewing categories of citizenship and visas, like birthright citizenship. Green card holders and tourists alike are facing issues when they enter the U.S. as well.
5. Universities and students are being targeted- this week the Trump administration said it would slash 2bn dollars in funding Harvard, other colleges are also in line. This means research grants and scholarship will be curtailed. In addition visa numbers are down- with a simple comparison of F-1 visas issued to students in February 2025 vs February 2024 showing a drop of 29.9%.
Some have likened this behaviour to that of China especially post 2010, and the resultant loss in its soft power.
Given the targeting of non-Americans includes large proportions of Indians, what are New Delhi’s options?
1. Say nothing, raise some issues behind closed doors and keep negotiating informally- the government says this is their strategy at present, whether it is for tariffs or students.
2. Offer legal support, counselling and advise for Indian students and others affected. At present the Indian Embassy websites in the U.S. have some details on emergency contacts, but no details on legal help.
3. The Indian government could issue travel advisories- this is normally seen as an unfriendly act, but the U.S and other countries frequently issue travel advisories for visitors to India. In the past month, countries like Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany and the U.K. have issued travel warnings for those going to the U.S., but New Delhi is yet to do so.
4. Make the welfare and safety of Indian students, who have their careers and future on the line, a bilateral issue for India-U.S. talks, and speak publicly about it. All eyes on whether the issue comes up next week, when U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials visit India. In an unlikely scenario, India could also apply strictures on U.S. visitors to India, suspend exchange programmes reciprocally.
5. The most extreme option would be for India to take its concerns internationally- raise it at UNESCO, Human Rights agencies, or International courts. Although visas and immigration are the sovereign right of any country, arbitrary illegal detentions and targeting of people based on ethnicity, race or religion can be challenged internationally.
Watch: U.S. crackdown on students | What are New Delhi’s options?
Since the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term in office, it has had non-American residents on target.
The U.S.’s crackdown on students, visitors and illegal immigrants is beginning to test America’s ties with the world. As the Trump administration rolls up the welcome mat, how will it affect U.S. soft power in the world, and what can countries like India do?
Since the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term in office, it has had non-American residents on target. While the government has thus far not criticized these moves—the pattern is getting harder to ignore, and the MEA made its first such statement this week.
The crackdown on students is part of a larger impact that the U.S. government’s actions are having on U.S. soft power:
1. Antagonising allies through claims on Greenland and Canada
2. Launching a global economic war with Tariffs
3. Stopping funding U.S. development projects abroad through agencies like USAID, whose budgets were slashed 83%
4. Immigration: the U.S. is clamping down on visa issuances, slowing naturalization processes, and reviewing categories of citizenship and visas, like birthright citizenship. Green card holders and tourists alike are facing issues when they enter the U.S. as well.
5. Universities and students are being targeted- this week the Trump administration said it would slash 2bn dollars in funding Harvard, other colleges are also in line. This means research grants and scholarship will be curtailed. In addition visa numbers are down- with a simple comparison of F-1 visas issued to students in February 2025 vs February 2024 showing a drop of 29.9%.
Some have likened this behaviour to that of China especially post 2010, and the resultant loss in its soft power.
Given the targeting of non-Americans includes large proportions of Indians, what are New Delhi’s options?
1. Say nothing, raise some issues behind closed doors and keep negotiating informally- the government says this is their strategy at present, whether it is for tariffs or students.
2. Offer legal support, counselling and advise for Indian students and others affected. At present the Indian Embassy websites in the U.S. have some details on emergency contacts, but no details on legal help.
3. The Indian government could issue travel advisories- this is normally seen as an unfriendly act, but the U.S and other countries frequently issue travel advisories for visitors to India. In the past month, countries like Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany and the U.K. have issued travel warnings for those going to the U.S., but New Delhi is yet to do so.
4. Make the welfare and safety of Indian students, who have their careers and future on the line, a bilateral issue for India-U.S. talks, and speak publicly about it. All eyes on whether the issue comes up next week, when U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials visit India. In an unlikely scenario, India could also apply strictures on U.S. visitors to India, suspend exchange programmes reciprocally.
5. The most extreme option would be for India to take its concerns internationally- raise it at UNESCO, Human Rights agencies, or International courts. Although visas and immigration are the sovereign right of any country, arbitrary illegal detentions and targeting of people based on ethnicity, race or religion can be challenged internationally.
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