Despite fatal risks and multiple deaths of illegal Indian immigrants attempting to cross borders, the desire for a new life in the United States, particularly among Gujaratis, remains unyielding.
According to data from the US Customs and Border Protection (US-CBP), during the fiscal year 2024—spanning from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024—29 lakh illegal immigrants were apprehended while attempting to enter the US via Mexico and Canada. Of these, 90,415 were Indian nationals.
Sources within Indian agencies monitoring illegal immigration report that approximately 50% of those apprehended hailed from Gujarat, equating to an arrest rate of about ten Indians every hour. Notably, 43,764 individuals were apprehended at the US-Canada border, marking the highest number of Indians caught at this crossing to date.
While these figures represent a slight decline from the previous year’s total of 32 lakh people and a reduction in the number of Indians caught on the Mexico route, the trend persists. In fiscal year 2023, the number of illegal Indian immigrants apprehended was 96,917, with 41,770 being caught at the US-Mexico border. In comparison, 25,616 Indians were apprehended along that route in 2024.
A source in the immigration network explained that many individuals have shifted away from the traditional “donkey route” via Mexico for two primary reasons. Firstly, would-be migrants are often detained in Dubai or Turkey before being taken to Mexico. US authorities have intensified their surveillance of illegal immigrants in those countries and have disrupted human smuggling networks.
Moreover, Gujaratis have increasingly opted for Canada as a gateway to the US, citing the convenience of hiring taxis to cross the border. However, recent tightening of border controls by US authorities has complicated these efforts. Many of these immigrants possess Canadian visitor visas, which facilitate their initial entry into Canada. Nevertheless, they often attempt to cross into the US multiple times if they are unsuccessful on their first try.
It is also worth noting that the number of individuals apprehended at the border may be significantly lower than the actual number who successfully manage to enter the United States undetected.
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