Mr. Shalabh Kumar, Chairman Indian American Advisory Council of House of Republican Conference of US Parliament expressed grave concern over the US Immigration Reform Bill S-744 as a prominent NRI based in Chicago, US. The Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act – 2013 or S744 is a bill drafted with the aim of reforming the immigration system in United States, Mr. Kumar who is also Chairman of the National Indian American Public Policy Institute (NIAPPI), has said.

Mr. Kumar stated that S744 was introduced in US Senate on April 16, 2013. This bill was prepared by a bipartisan group of eight senators known as “gang of eight” comprising Senator John McCain, Charles, Lindsey Graham, Richard Durbin, Marco Rubio, Robert Menendez, Jeff Flake and Michael Bennet. This bill was passed in the US Senate on June 27, 2013, which is controlled by Democratic Party headed by President Barack Obama. Now the bill is pending in US House of Representatives awaiting consideration. Once it is approved, the bill will become a law.

Mr. Kumar stated that this bill shall damage Indian business and IT industry in India. It shall affect around 500,000 engineers from India. This bill shall cause loss to the tune of Rs. 1,875 lakh crore in Indian exports to United States on a yearly basis. It shall have adverse restrictions on Indian H1B and L1 visa holders. It shall break the back bone of Indian export industry alleged. If the bill is passed then Indian firms will be forced to cut down on sending their employees from India.

It shall reduce the GDP of India and its dollar reserves almost to the tune of 1 to 1.5 per cent of Indian GDP. Mr. Kumar termed this bill as a major challenge for the newly elected Indian Government.

He noted with appreciation the efforts of Mr. Vijay Jolly Convenor OFBJP Global Affairs for voicing the strong opposition of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the anti Indian provisions of the bill. Mr. Jolly had recently written a letter to the US Ambassador in India demanding that US House of Representative should not approve the anti Indian S744 bill.