PM Modi will do 'what is right' on illegal immigrants, likely to visit US in February: Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will do what is right on illegal immigrants underlining that discussions are going on with India reported news agency PTIPresident Trump made these remarks on Monday while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back to Joint Base Andrews from Florida He also mentioned that Prime Minister Modi is likely to visit the White House in February reported PTISeparately in a readout of a phone call between both leaders the White House said that Trump had a productive phone call with Modi and sought a move towards a fair bilateral trading relationship and deeper IndiaUS cooperationWhile talking to House Republicans at a Florida retreat on Monday President Trump said that the US would impose tariffs on the countries that harm America as he named China India and Brazil as hightariff countries reported PTIWere going to put tariffs on outside countries and outside people that really mean harm to us Look at what others do China is a tremendous tariff maker and India and Brazil and so many other countries So were not going to let that happen any longer because were going to put America first he said reported PTIMeanwhile during their phone call the two leaders also discussed plans for Modi to visit the US the White House said in the readoutWhile talking to reporters aboard Air Force One Trump was asked Did he Modi agree to take illegal immigrantsHe Modi will do whats right We are discussing said the presidentI had a long talk with him this morning Monday He is going to be coming to the White House over next month probably February We have a very good relationship with India Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One reported PTIThe president was responding to a question on the phone call he had with Modi on MondayEverything came up in a phone call with Modi Trump told reporters when asked about the details of his call with the Prime Minister reported PTIThe prime ministers trip to the US the first under Trump 20 was finalised during the call Trumps last foreign trip as president was to India during his first termTrump and Modi enjoy a good friendly relationship The two addressed thousands of people at two different rallies in Houston in September 2019 and in Ahmedabad in February 2020Modi was among the top three world leaders to speak with Trump after his stunning electoral victory in November 2024In a readout of the call the White House said the two Trump sought India to increase in USmade security equipment and move towards a fair bilateral trading relationshipToday President Donald J Trump held a productive call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India The two leaders discussed expanding and deepening cooperation They also discussed a range of regional issues including security in the IndoPacific the Middle East and Europe it said reported PTIThe President emphasised the importance of India increasing its procurement of Americanmade security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship the White House said reported PTIThe leaders discussed plans for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House underscoring the strength of the friendship and strategic ties between our nations it added reported PTIBoth Modi and Trump emphasised their commitment to advance the USIndia strategic partnership and the IndoPacific Quad partnership with India hosting Quad Leaders for the first time later this yearThe US India Japan and Australia compose the Quad a fourway grouping They have been stepping up cooperation in various fields such as defence and energy amid Chinas increasing military and economic clout in the regionLike in many countries there have been some concerns in India as well over the Trump administrations approach to immigration and tariffsTrump has already talked about slapping 100 per cent tariffs on the BRICS grouping a bloc that includes India as wellSpeaking during a weekly press briefing External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to Indias ongoing dialogue with the US on matters related to trade and immigration and expressed hope that both sides will be able to address any issueTrade occupies a special place within the strong and multifaceted IndiaUS relationship and the two sides reached a record level of trade in goods and services worth USD 190 billion in 2023 Jaiswal saidOn January 23 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who represented India at the inauguration ceremony of Trump said that India has always been open to the legitimate return of undocumented Indians to their countryAs a government we are obviously very much supportive of legal mobility because we do believe in a global workplace At the same time we are also very firmly opposed to illegal mobility and illegal migration Jaishankar had saidSo with every country and the US is no exception we have always maintained that if any of our citizens are there illegally and if we are sure that they are our citizens we have always been open to their legitimate return to IndiaHe was responding to a query on news reports that India is working with the Trump administration for the deportation of some 180000 Indians in the US who are either undocumented or have overstayed their visasDepartment of Homeland Security in April 2024 said there were about 11 million illegal immigrants in the US in the year 2022 Mexico topped the list with 481 million illegal immigrants followed by Guatemala 750000 El Salvador 710000 Honduras 560000 Philippines 350000 Venezuela 320000 Colombia 230000 and Brazil 230000The DHS said there has been a sharp decline in illegal immigrants from India between 2018 and 2022It says 220000 Indians were living in the US illegally at the end of 2022The Indian population fell by 54 per cent or 260000 people from 480000 in 2018 to 220000 in 2022 while the Chinese population declined by 47 per cent or 180000 from 390000 to 210000 DHS saidWith inputs from PTI