THE election of Republican Donald Trump as the next US president could see talented migrants and visitors shun America, British community leaders have cautioned.
They believe if the outspoken candidate triumphs in the November 8 election, it will lead to many British Muslims scrapping plans to visit or settle in the US.
Trump has sparked uproar for a string of controversial comments on women, building a wall to tackle immigration and banning Muslims from entering the country.
Amit Kapadia, executive director of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme Forum, told Eastern Eye that a Trump win could be a boost to the British workforce.
He said: “It is unlikely that the US congress will allow a future US government to enforce discriminatory laws which may victimise migrants due to their nationality or religion.
“However, Trump’s presidency may discourage migrants from going to the US. This may mean the best talents across the globe may consider the UK as a destination since Brexit may mean a new set of non-discriminatory immigration laws will be applied equally to all migrants coming to the UK.”
Trump trails rival Hilary Clinton by 51 per cent to 41 per cent in the polls and his campaign has been rocked by allegations from several women that he sexually assaulted them. The Republican candidate has denied the claims. He attended a rally of Hindu-American supporters in New Jersey this month to raise money for victims of terrorism in India and Bangladesh.
The tycoon vowed India and the US would be “best friends” if he were elected but was ridiculed for blunders in his speech. He used the word “Hindu” as another word for the country, saying “I am a big fan of Hindu. I am a big fan of India.”
The entrepreneur also mixed up the location of the Indian parliament when mentioning the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and the 2001 attack on the parliament building in New Delhi.
Abu Sundos, an imam and spokesman for the Muslim Youth Foundation, said he would never visit America again if Trump is elected.
He told Eastern Eye: “Instead of bringing communities together, patching differences and living in harmony, we have someone like Trump being considered.
“I love America and its people. If Trump is elected, I would not even consider going. America will lose its respect in the eyes of many Muslims. Hilary Clinton is the voice of reason if the choice is between her and Trump.
“What bothers me is that he is being considered as a serious candidate.”
A recent survey showed 67 per cent support for Clinton among Indian-Americans, while only seven per cent said they would vote for Trump.
Lord Meghnad Desai, the Labour peer and economist, believes the Republican will not be able to put into action many of his controversial ideas.
He said: “Presidents in the US are not as powerful to change the law as Trump imagines. Congress has to co-operate. He may be able to tighten visa procedures but even that is not easy.
“Trump could be different in power than during the campaign, like many previous candidates.”
Columnist and commentator Yasmin Alibhai Brown went to the US in September for a lecture tour. In her column, she wrote: “Gone is that ebullience, the darned ‘have-a-nice-day’ chirpiness.
“Instead, in conservative and liberal states, across age, race and class, Americans seemed to be confused or miserable or rattled or livid or ashamed, most of all, fearful.
“Polls suggest that this repulsive man cannot now win. But remember polls can be very wrong. He has vowed to incarcerate Hillary Clinton if he does become president and to avenge himself on his detractors.
“This is banana republic politics and it goes down well with his ill-informed, easily aroused, discontent, faithful followers. God help America.”
