Title 42 was a public health order enacted under the Donald Trump administration, which allowed US authorities to expel migrants back to Mexico or, to their countries of origin. After it expired on May 11, 2023, there has been a flood of asylum seekers, including Indian migrants, crossing the US-Mexico border illegally. Per US Customs and Border Protection (UCBP) statistics, 41,770 Indians were caught between October 2022 and September 2023, at the frontier with Mexico. After crossing into the US to seek asylum, most turn themselves in to border patrol. Non-profit organisations along the border assist them in going to sanctuary states. Most sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago have been overwhelmed and as winter approaches, the Indian community will hopefully step up and reach out to these new migrants with warm clothes, blankets and provisions. Fortunately, the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023 would hopefully allow asylum seekers to get work authorization as quickly as 30 days after applying for asylum. However, two new Texas bills will likely raise barriers. In June, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent off immigrants on buses to Democratic-led sanctuary cities. Now, responding to the huge influx at the US-Mexico border, the Texas House passed legislation on November 14 approving two anti-immigration bills, SB 4 and SB 5. State and local police will now be empowered to arrest anyone suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico border illegally by making it a state crime to cross into Texas from another country without proper documents. State judges will be required to order a migrant to return to the country they came from in lieu of prosecution and refusal will likely make them face a felony charge and a prison term of 20 years. Critics argue that the bill contravenes the Supreme Court ruling in Arizona v. US, which forbids states from implementing their own immigration laws but Texas Republicans believe the ongoing border crisis necessitates state action. A constitutional battle will likely ensue but for now, tougher times lie ahead for immigrants without proper documentation. Financial Times article on assassination bid on Pannu India’s covert operations abroad were the subject of a recent Financial Times article which has become viral among the Indian diaspora due to an alleged thwarted assassination attempt. Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a dual citizen of the US and Canada, was the target of the attempt on US soil, the report said. India had designated Pannu as a terrorist under its Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and labelled Sikhs for Justice, the group he advises, as an unlawful organisation. Sikhs for Justice had organised a referendum on Khalistan and held demonstrations outside India’s consulate in San Francisco where the Indian flag was torn. This month, Pannu warned Sikhs that flying on Air India could be “life-threatening” after November 19. His provocative actions likely made him a target. As the US and its allies, including the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, seek to engage India as a strategic counterbalance to China, these allegations will pose a challenge. Canada, another member of the Five Eyes, is currently investigating “credible allegations” linking New Delhi to Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder, an allegation that India has strongly denied. US President Joe Biden has reportedly discussed this issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in New Delhi, indicating the high level of concern within the US government. Meanwhile, a sealed indictment has been filed in a New York district court against alleged perpetrators. The allegations raise questions about India’s methods of dealing with perceived threats abroad. The National Security Council refused to comment on “ongoing law enforcement matters or private diplomatic discussions with our partners”, however, it added that upholding the safety and security of US citizens is paramount. Aaditya Adlakha, a doctoral student, shot dead in Cincinnati Aaditya Adlakha, a 26-year-old doctoral student, was shot on the Western Hills Viaduct, Cincinnati, Ohio at about 6.20 am on November 9, Thursday. Gunfire erupted and his vehicle was hit multiple times before crashing into the sidewalk. There were at least three bullet holes visible in the driver's side window. Drivers called 911 to report the vehicle with bullet holes and a person inside who had been shot. Adlakha was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he was critical for several days and died on November 11, Saturday. Adlakha held a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Ramjas College, University of Delhi, and a master’s in physiology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He was a student in the Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program and his research, focusing on neuroimmune communication and its role in pain and inflammatory diseases, was highly regarded. He worked in the Department of Anesthesiology’s Division of Pain Management at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and was actively involved in the university community, serving as a secretary for the Health Sciences Graduate Association. The university community, led by Senior Vice President of Health Affairs and Dean Andrew Filak, expressed deep grief and a sense of loss. As America stocked up on Thanksgiving goodies and families prepared to spend time together over a long weekend, the University of Cincinnati Medical School was in mourning and coming together to remember Adlakha, supporting each other through this difficult time. The circumstances of Adlakha’s death, reportedly a case of mistaken identity, have raised concerns among the Indian student community about the challenges of pursuing an education abroad. Especially because only recently Varun Raj Pucha, a 24-year-old student of computer science, died in a stabbing incident and Andhra student Saiesh Veera was shot during a robbery attempt in Ohio. Anirudh Chhabre, former president of the Indian Student Association, highlighting the added stressors international students face has said, “It also is kind of demotivating, like, OK, do we really want to, like, put our life at risk, you know, to be able to get like quality education? Because I don’t think education should have like, you know, stressors like these come along with it.” (The writer is a former IRS officer presently in the US)
