Immigration policy is an exercise of national sovereignty, but its consequences extend far beyond government offices and corporate hiring decisions. People may spend years building careers, raising children and organising their finances around established routes to permanent residence. The United States’ suspension of permanent-residency processing for employees of eight technology companies raises a difficult question: what consideration is owed to those whose lives have become rooted in a country where their long-term status remains unresolved?

Indian technology professionals are particularly exposed. Many entered the American workforce on temporary H-1B visas, viewing employer-sponsored permanent residency as a possible next step. Some have waited years. Their children may have attended American schools, while mortgages, relationships and professional commitments have taken root. For these families, the prospect of having to leave involves far more than finding another job. No immigrant has an automatic entitlement to permanent residence. Governments must retain the authority to regulate entry, enforce labour standards and determine eligibility for settlement.

Nor does a........

© The Statesman