The US has long maintained a per-country cap on green cards, limiting each nation to no more than 7% of annual allotments, a system that has especially affected Indian professionals, who face wait times that can exceed a decade. By removing this cap, the US would enable applicants to be processed based on merit rather than country of origin, significantly accelerating Green Card approvals for Indians who comprise a sizable pool of skilled workers in fields such as technology, healthcare, and engineering. The backlog, which has forced many on temporary visas (like the H-1B) into extended uncertainty, could diminish, benefiting not just the individuals seeking permanent residency but also their families who often confront separation and logistical hurdles. Indian-American venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan and tech figures like David Sacks and Elon Musk have stressed that broader pathways to residency would boost the US labor market by attracting top international talent, particularly at a time when industries like artificial intelligence and software engineering demand specialized expertise. Meanwhile, Canadian colleges and certain Indian individuals and entities have come under India’s Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) scrutiny for allegedly facilitating human trafficking of Indian nationals, including a significant number of Panjabis, into the US via Canada. The racket was exposed following the 2022 death of a four-member family from Gujarat, who succumbed to extreme cold while attempting to cross the US-Canada border illegally. In a statement, the ED revealed it has conducted searches at eight locations linked to suspect Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, who is accused of conspiring to smuggle people into the US on the pretext of securing them admissions in Canadian colleges. Amid this, Canada is ending ‘flagpoling’ for permit renewals, requiring students and workers to use Visitor Record applications, which involve online processing and maintaining implied legal status.
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