Nearly 97,000 Indians detained trying to enter US illegally in last one year

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• Nov 3, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released data indicating that a record-breaking 96,917 Indian nationals were apprehended while...

Digital Desk: The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released data indicating that a record-breaking 96,917 Indian nationals were apprehended while attempting to cross into the United States illegally between October 2022 and September 2023. This figure highlights a significant surge in the number of Indian migrants willing to take the perilous journey into the US through unauthorized means, despite the well-documented dangers associated with such routes.

The data shows that out of the nearly 97,000 Indians, a substantial number attempted to enter the US through the Canadian and Mexican borders, with 30,010 individuals caught entering illegally from the north and 41,770 from the south. The remainder were apprehended after making their way onto the US mainland. This dramatic increase marks a fivefold jump in the number of Indians attempting illegal entry compared to the 2019–2020 period, when 19,883 were apprehended.

A report by the Times of India suggests that the actual number of individuals trying to illegally cross into the US may be much higher. A police official quoted in the report claimed that for every person apprehended at the border, there could be as many as 10 others who successfully entered the US.

The migrants hail predominantly from the states of Gujarat and Punjab and aspire to settle in the United States. They are categorized into four groups: unaccompanied children, children accompanied by family members, entire families, and single adults. The data indicates that single adults constitute the largest category, with 84,000 individuals apprehended at the US border in recent times. Additionally, at least 730 unaccompanied children were detained, raising concerns about their welfare and custody arrangements.

The surge in illegal immigration can be attributed in part to the end of pandemic-era border policy (Title 42) in May. This policy reversal resulted in a spike in illegal immigration, as it previously allowed the US government to swiftly deport illegal immigrants without granting them asylum hearings.

According to officials cited in the report, while many Indians are apprehended in the US each year, only a few are deported as they often seek shelter on humanitarian grounds. The complex issue of illegal immigration remains a significant challenge for US authorities, as they navigate a delicate balance between border enforcement and addressing the humanitarian needs of those attempting to enter the country illegally.