I had read about this new law that circumvented the Supreme Court (India) judgement repealing the IMDT Act some months ago. And I was wondering today (while based in USA currently) about my own situation regarding job and future career. I had planned to seek a consultant to get an H-1B visa. On the other hand, I was wondering about my desire to work in reconstruction work – i.e., education reform or capacity building in developing countries, especially ones torn by strife. The dilemma focused specifically on my ability to return to the US –for another job or a PhD after I had worked abroad. And then I recollected the New Indian Law (for Assam only!!) by which the government HAS to prove that the person is an illegal immigrant and not vice versa!! Immediately, I began to think that if such an Act had been place in the US – my own worries of going through the grind to seek a US visa would instantly be over!! Then, I just need to stay on in the US and work or study. Burn my documents and of course, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to prove that I am from outside the US. Many Indian immigrants have been caught after many years of their stay in the US and asked to prove that they were legally in the US. Of course, they could not. But, it would have been extremely difficult for the Immigration officials – if they had to prove the illegality of the stay.
Of course, once the word got around, it would be only a matter of months before you would see hundreds of thousands of people making for the US shores on ships, boats, etc. The more the merrier - since it would be even more difficult for the Customs or Immigration officials to give evidence that these fellows were caught while entering. The voice of a thousand illegal immigrants against that of a handful officials would hold no water in any court. I assume that all these illegals would vouch for each other.
I suspect a similar scenario would erupt in Assam also (and why this Act is not in other states of NE India?) once it is in place. Poor illegals from Bangladesh, Sudan, Afghanistan, Liberia and elsewhere would rush in to take advantage of it – just the way it happened under Sweden’s relaxed Asylum laws in 1980s.
Of course, Indian PM, Manmohan Singh, need not bother – all his three children are safely in the USA – and can and would safely sponsor his US Green Card (he does not have to bother about the immigration laws of the US). Similarly, Sonia with her Italian family connections, can easily get herself and her children citizenship of a EU country. So they are really not concerned about what happens back in India – after 20 or 30 years. Their own progeny will not be affected. Hence, the recent move to show sympathy to those entering India (even illegally!!). Since, they expect a similar sympathy for themselves when they seek immigration to the West – later on – once they are out of power.
Remote Assam is a test case. Once the ordinance is successful there without any political fallout (and considerable political gains from the votes of illegals) – then in all likelihood it would be implemented in the whole of India – leaving India open to all thugs, terrorists, asylum seekers, and fortune hunters . God help future India. God help Assam/Asom/Oxom NOW!!
- by Umesh Sharma, College Park, MD
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