News India Times

Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the authors and Parikh Worldwide Media does not officially endorse, and is not responsible or liable for them. Trump Undermines Legal ImmigrationWith Pause On Visa Applications O n President Donald Trump’s first day back in office, while signing an executive order to declare an emergency at the border with Mexico, he told reporters about a clear distinction in his mind between legal and illegal immi- gration. “I’m fine with legal immigration,” he said in the val Office. “I like it. We need people.” But the Trump administration stopped processing those people. In recent days, the State Department paused all immi- grant visa applications from every country. The excuse is that “in-depth training” is needed for officers who handle visas to cover the revival of the “public charge” policy, which requires green card applicants to demonstrate they will not need welfare once granted the right to stay indefinitely in the United States. In practice, the visa pause is another draconian crackdown on legal pathways, one that discourages foreigners from playing by the rules. The blanket “pause” came days after a federal judge in New York struck down Trump’s visa ban on 75 countries, saying it discriminates against applicants based on their nationality. Ap- parently out of spite, the administration responded by declaring that, temporarily, there will be no visas for anyone. This is the latest move to curb legal immigration, including the administration’s attempt to slap a fee of more than $100,000 on every new visa given to a highly skilled worker sponsored by a company. TheWhite House also plans to revoke up to 200,000 visas from people who entered the United States on a tourist or work visa and then claimed asylum. It is difficult to measure the amount of personal and eco- nomic pain created each time the president announces a new visa ban. Law-abiding immigrants spend months, often years, going through the process. They pay thousands of dollars in fees, attend many appointments and meticulously follow the rules to get their work or residency status over the line. They understand what a privilege and opportunity it is to live in America, so they invest in the process and wait for approval. The administration’s worldwide disruption to the legal process undermines its fight to curb illegal immigration. Fol- lowing the rules does not protect against arbitrary disputes and setbacks. Foreign workers are being asked to invest their money in a process that can be paused at any time on political whims. The president understands the cost of these pauses. Last fall, Trump called for more foreign investment in America on Truth Social, writing that “we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people” to the U.S. and that his administration would make the process “quickly and legally possible.” He defended skilled immigration on Fox News. The U.S. is close to full employment, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, meaning Americans who want to be em- ployed are largely able to find work. Meanwhile, foreign workers who are doing everything by the book and are ready to help fill millions of job vacancies have been put in limbo. This harms the U.S. economy. It harms law-abiding immi- grants. And it undermines the president’s message that playing by the rules will be rewarded. - TheWashington Post Editorial Board, www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Dr. Sudhir M. Parikh Founder, Chairman & Publisher Ilayas Quraishi Chief Operating Officer Ela Dutt Editor Archana Adalja Contributing Editor T. Vishnudatta Jayaraman Advisor Arun Shah Ahmedabad Bureau Chief Peter Ferreira, Deval Parikh, Freelance Photographers Bhailal M. Patel Executive Vice President Jim Gallentine Business Development Manager - U.S. Shahnaz Sheikh Senior Manager Advertising & Marketing Sonia Lalwani Advertising Manager Shailu Desai Advertising New York Muslima Shethwala Syed Sheeraz Mahmood Advertising Chicago Digant Sompura Consultant for Business Development Ahmedabad, India Hervender Singh Circulation Manager Main Office Editorial & Corporate Headquarters 1655 Oak Tree Toad, Suite 155 Edison, NJ 08820-2843 Tel. (212) 675-7515 Fax. (212) 675-7624 New York Office Tel: (718) 784-8555 E-mails editor@newsindiatimes.com advertising@newsindia-times.com subscription@newsindia-times.com Website www.newsindiatimes.com Chicago Office 8846 Lavergne Ave, Skokie, IL 60077 Tel. (773) 856-3345 California Office 650 Vermont Ave, Suite #46 Anaheim, CA 92805 Mumbai Office Nikita Ajay Pai Goregaon, West Mumbai Ahmedabad Office 303 Kashiparekh Complex C.G. Road, 29 Adarsh Society Ahmedabad 380009 Tel. 26446947 F ax. 26565596 Published weekly, Founded in 1975. The views expressed on the opinion pages are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of News India Times. Copyright © 2026, News India Times News India Times (ISSN 0199-901X) is published every Friday by Parikh Worldwide Media LLC., 1655 Oak Tree Toad, Suite 155 Edison, NJ 08820-2843 Periodicals postage paid at Newark, N.J. , and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address change to News India Times, 1655 Oak Tree Toad, Suite 155 Edison, NJ 08820-2843 Annual Subscription: United States: $28 Disclaimer: Parikh Worldwide Media assumes no liability for claims/ assumptions made in advertisements and advertorials. Indian American Photojournalist Remembers Gloria Steinem J ay Mandal, a veteran Indian Ameri- can photojournalist in NewYork City recalls his interactions with feminist icon Gloria Steinem. Speaking to News India Times he said he had more recollections about Steinem, but had put down only the highlights of his memories on his Facebook page @JayMandal on September 3, the day after he came to know she was no more. Following are his words: “Between June 16, 1982, and Septem- ber 2, 2022, I had the privilege of meeting Gloria Steinem several times in NewYork City andWashington, DC; sometimes only to exchange a simple hello. But one meeting remains especially close to my heart. On September 2, 2022, my friend Ruchira Gupta, a tireless advocate against social injustice in India and founder of the NGO Apne Aap, invited me to Gloria’s lovely Manhattan townhouse to photo- graph her with Gloria. I captured many moments that day, little frames of history and humanity that I will always cherish ( A few images are posted here). Today, September 3, 2026, exactly four years and a day later, I find myself reflect- ing on that encounter with a heavy heart. How strangely sad…! Gloria was a woman of extraordinary courage, conviction and grace; a fearless voice who challenged conventions, ques- tioned power and stood unwaveringly for women’s dignity and equality. Yet, behind that formidable activist was something equally beautiful: a warm, compassionate and deeply genuine hu- man being. Her boldness made history. Her cour- age inspired generations. Her humanity made her unforgettable. Rest in the abode of eternal peace, Gloria…! From Facebook (usedwith permission) PHOTOS: JAY MANDAL/ON ASSIGNMENT Gloria Steinem in her apartment in New York City September 2, 2022. Gloria Steinem and Ruchira Gupta, founder of Apne Aap, in Steinem’s apartment September 2022. In Remembrance Opinion News India Times (September 5, 2026 - September 11, 2026) September 11, 2026 3