Tue Jan 21 17:00:48 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Inauguration Sparks Concerns in India Over New Immigration and Trade Policies

**Washington D.C., January 21, 2025** – The inauguration of President Donald Trump has sent ripples of concern through India following the President’s swift actions on immigration and trade. Shortly after being sworn in, Trump signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship, a move that could impact thousands of Indian professionals working in the U.S. on temporary visas.

The President also announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on BRICS nations engaging in non-dollar transactions. This announcement, which incorrectly identified Spain as a BRICS member, targets the ten-nation economic bloc that includes India. Further fueling concerns, Trump’s planned crackdown on undocumented immigrants could affect an estimated 725,000 Indians, with nearly 18,000 already facing deportation.

In response to these developments, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is meeting with the newly sworn-in U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to address these concerns and discuss priorities for the bilateral relationship. The meeting, Rubio’s first with a foreign dignitary, follows a Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting, also attended by Jaishankar. The Quad—comprising India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia—is expected to discuss the upcoming Quad Summit to be held in India later this year.

Jaishankar’s prominent seating at the inauguration, ahead of other Quad representatives, and Rubio’s prioritization of a meeting with the Quad Ministers over other engagements are seen as significant signals of the continued importance of the Indo-Pacific partnership. This emphasis on the Quad stands in contrast to Trump’s outreach to China, which sent a high-ranking representative to the inauguration. Secretary Rubio, known for his critical stance towards China, has been sanctioned by Beijing for his comments on human rights. His confirmation hearing reiterated his view of China as the U.S.’s most significant adversary.

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