Recent data from US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) has shown the harsh realities of Indian minors trying to enter the country illegally. A concerning trend was highlighted by 1,656 Indian minors who were arrested between 2022 and November 2024.
The USCBP, an agency in charge of tracking and stopping illegal immigration, reports that apprehensions have increased yearly. In 2022, 409 Indian minors were apprehended. With 42 children arrested in November alone, this number rose to 730 in 2023 and remained at 517 in 2024. These figures demonstrate the dangerous journeys conducted by vulnerable children along routes arranged by human traffickers.
Experts in human smuggling attribute the rise to various factors, including poverty, limited opportunities and the allure of a better life in the United States.
“For many families, human smugglers offer what seem like viable options, despite the risks involved. Tragically, many children endure hazardous conditions, with some even falling victim to exploitation and abuse,” said a source familiar with the human smuggling network.
Sources also revealed disturbing tactics used by smugglers, particularly in Gujarat, where fake families are sometimes created by pairing unrelated children with illegal immigrants. “In such cases, the kids are abandoned at the mercy of American agencies,” the source added.
The broader trend of illegal immigration from India to the US is equally concerning, with an annual average of 90,000 Indians apprehended between 2022 and 2024. These figures reflect the scale of the issue despite increased efforts to curb human smuggling.
The dangers of such illegal crossings were tragically highlighted in January 2022 when four members of a Patel family from Dingucha, Gujarat, froze to death in blizzard-like conditions while attempting to cross the US-Canada border.
Despite the Dingucha tragedy, illegal immigration by minors continued to rise, with the number peaking in 2023. A Gujarat police officer noted that stricter border surveillance in 2024 resulted in some disruption to smuggling networks, yet 90,000 Indians, including at least 500 minors, were apprehended that year.
Also Read: Nobel Laureate and Former US President Jimmy Carter Dies at 100
