Trump visa curbs could reverse India’s brain drain

The Story in Brief

The Trump administration is considering removing the 60-day grace period for unemployed H-1B visa holders, a move that would directly affect nearly 3 lakh Indian professionals who account for 71.2% of H-1B issuances, the Economic Times reports. The proposal, forwarded by the US Department of Homeland Security, follows Trump's broader push to tighten green card allocations and prioritise American workers. Indian professionals and students, who dominate high-skilled migration streams, face prolonged uncertainty that affects career and investment decisions, says Millennium Post.

Both outlets argue the policy shift could become an opportunity for India. The Economic Times calls tightening US immigration rules a 'gift horse' that could help reverse brain drain if India builds globally comparable research ecosystems, startups and higher education institutions. India's domestic IT sector could move up the value chain by attracting more MNCs to access high-end talent, it adds.