US Indian Diaspora Gets Tax Cut on Remittances; Donkey Route Horrors

On 4 Jul, US President Donald Trump signed into law the so-called Big Beautiful Bill which is a package of tax and spending cuts. On the occasion, Trump staged an outdoor ceremony that took on the air of a political rally. Indian nationals, including Panjabis, in the US who send money back home are set to benefit from tax cuts on remittances down to 1%. According to the World Bank, the US sent USD 80B in outward remittances in 2022, making it the largest sender of remittances in the world. India is the world's top receiver of remittances. Immigrants who send wages home via wire transfers will still be taxed, though money sent via banks will now be exempt. That would be welcome news for high-earning, short-term migrants, such as tech workers from India. Meanwhile, a harrowing tale of illegal immigration has come to light as five youths—four from Panjab and one from Haryana—attempting to reach the US through the notorious 'donkey route' fell victim to brutal torture at the hands of human traffickers in Colombia. One of the illegal migrants is Balwinder Singh. According to his family, Balwinder was abducted in February 2025. The gang allegedly subjected the youths to third-degree torture to extort ransom from their families. The family has approached Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) Member Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal to help Balwinder return to India. In other news, on 6 Jul, in the UK, Navroop Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years behind bars for five charges, including rape, by the Isleworth Crown Court. Navroop had previously pleaded guilty to three offences: possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, rape of a girl under 13, and assault of the girl. He had been additionally convicted of the attempted rape of a woman in west London in October 2024 following a four-day trial.