Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill: How it will affect Indian students and immigrants in the US

US President Donald Trump’s new ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, passed by the US Congress and expected to become law soon, could have wide-reaching effects on Indian nationals. The Bill, nearly 900 pages long, includes major tax cuts, sharp spending increases on deportation and defence, and tighter controls on welfare benefits.Here’s how the law may impact Indian students, workers, and families in the United States:

1% remittance tax may add to money transfer costs
A new 1% excise tax on remittances could make it more expensive for Indians in the US to send money home.“While the tax may seem marginal, it adds up—especially for those who send money regularly to support family or repay EMIs on Indian education loans,” said Ankit Mehra, Co-Founder of GyanDhan.

He added that the tax applies mainly to cash-based transfers like money orders, but can be avoided by using US bank accounts or cards.

Tougher deportation plans could increase risk

The Bill provides $350 billion for national security, including:

• Funding for 100,000 migrant detention beds
• Hiring 10,000 new immigration officers
• Plans to deport 1 million people per year

These changes may increase risks for Indian nationals who fall out of visa status or face immigration delays.

Healthcare and food aid cuts could affect student families

The Bill imposes work requirements for Medicaid and food stamp recipients, including:

• Adults up to 65 years of age
• Parents of children aged 14 and above

It also allows a $35 co-payment for Medicaid services. These changes may impact Indian-origin families in the US, especially those with dependent visas or low-income jobs.Clean energy cuts may shrink job opportunities

The Bill rolls back tax incentives for electric vehicles and renewable energy projects, which were key to Biden’s green agenda.

“This could hurt Indian professionals in clean energy jobs or research,” said Viram Shah, CEO, Vested Finance.

“It also risks shifting global climate tech leadership to countries like India,” he added.

Possible impact on education and research funding

The Bill introduces a new tax on large university endowments. This may reduce funding for research or financial aid at US universities, indirectly affecting Indian students studying there.

Short-term boost, long-term risk

While the Bill offers new tax cuts and boosts consumer spending, experts warn of longer-term risks to the US economy.

“Trump’s Bill acts like a short-term stimulus, but weakens America’s fiscal health. Bond yields could rise, affecting everything from student loan rates to mortgage costs,” added Shah.

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