As US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office next month, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released data revealing that 17,940 undocumented Indians are among the individuals slated for deportation.
This figure places India 13th on a list of 208 nations, with the total number of individuals on the non-detained docket with final removal orders standing at 1.445 million.
The ICE data, as of November 2024, highlights the challenges faced by undocumented Indians in legalising their status in the US, with thousands waiting years for case hearings or ICE clearance.
Local immigration experts suggest that individuals from Punjab, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh form the majority of undocumented Indians in the US. Alarmingly, an average of 90,000 Indians were apprehended attempting to cross US borders illegally over the past three financial years.
In Asia, China surpasses India with 37,908 undocumented individuals residing in the US. Honduras leads the global list with 261,000 undocumented people, followed by Guatemala with 253,000. Most of the countries in the top 15 are geographically closer to the US or share land or sea borders.
India’s classification as “uncooperative” by ICE complicates the deportation process further. The US government expects foreign authorities to confirm the citizenship of individuals facing deportation, issue travel documents promptly and accept their nationals through scheduled flights. However, ICE notes delays in coordination by Indian authorities, adding to the challenges of deportation.
India is among 15 nations, including China, Pakistan and Russia, labelled as uncooperative or at risk of non-compliance with deportation guidelines. These nations face diplomatic pressure to enhance cooperation in processing deportees.
President-elect Trump has reiterated his commitment to strict immigration enforcement as a central pillar of his administration’s policies.
This includes expediting the removal of undocumented immigrants with final orders, a group that includes nearly 18,000 Indians.
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