Trump Immigration: China Shows India the Path to Innovation

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Waking up when hit with crisis may be an India story, but China shows script to look into the eye of a storm and thrive.

By TRH Global Affairs Desk

NEW DELHI, September 28, 2025 — The United States has long been a magnet for global talent, building its reputation as the world’s leading economy and innovation hub on the shoulders of immigrants. Yet, under President Donald Trump, America risks turning its back on this legacy.

Former President Barack Obama reminded Americans that immigrants from diverse backgrounds have long practiced their faiths and cultures while pledging loyalty to the Stars and Stripes, leading advances in science, diplomacy, and industry.

By casting immigration as a threat, Trump undermines the very foundation of US progress. Manish Anand, senior geostrategic analyst and Editor of The Raisina Hills underscores that today’s corporate giants—Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, and Tesla—owe much of their success to immigrant founders, leaders, and workers.

Elon Musk, a South African immigrant, revolutionized electric mobility and space exploration through Tesla and SpaceX, with the latter even rescuing stranded astronauts. NASA, home to countless immigrant scientists, including many of Indian origin, continues to set global standards in space research.

Nobel Prizes in science and economics have been disproportionately won by immigrants, further highlighting their indispensable contributions to America’s $54 trillion economy.

Ironically, Trump’s own administration relies on immigrant talent. Senior figures such as Kash Patel, the FBI Director, and Tulsi Gabbard, Director of Intelligence, both of Indian origin, demonstrate how integral immigrants are to America’s national fabric. Restrictive policies, Anand cautions, run counter to America’s best interests.

The comparison with China is telling. By building infrastructure and offering incentives in the 1980s and 1990s, Beijing lured back its diaspora, creating a reverse migration that sped up its technological rise. India, Anand suggests, must learn from this.

For New Delhi, the challenge is whether it can create ecosystems strong enough to attract and retain returning talent, ensuring that the country benefits from the skills of its global citizens. America’s missteps could be India’s opportunity—but only if it acts decisively.

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