Nearly 42,000 Indians entered US illegally over the past year

NT Correspondent

Washington/New Delhi: According to data compiled by the US Customs and Border Protection, approximately 42,000 migrants from India have crossed the southern border illegally during the fiscal year that began in October and ended in September, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported.

This figure represents a significant increase in the number of Indians engaging in such illegal border crossings. While Mexicans continue to comprise the largest group of individuals entering the United States without authorization, the influx of Indian migrants has surged in recent years.

The data reveals that 41,770 Indian citizens unlawfully entered the United States from the southern border, more than double the number during the corresponding period in the previous year.

Of this total, over 33,800 were single adults, and nearly 7,250 were classified as individuals within family units. Additionally, close to 700 were unaccompanied children or minors.

Between October 2022 and September of this year, the monthly influx of Indian migrants ranged from 2,000 to 4,000 individuals, with a peak of over 8,000 in April.

Notably, in September, more than 3,000 Indians were apprehended for illegal entry into the United States, this time from the Canadian border. Nearly all Indians illegally entering the United States turn themselves into Border Patrol to avoid getting arrested.

This is so that they can apply for asylum in the United States, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Diego Piña Lopez, the director of Casa Alitas, a nonprofit organization assisting migrants, revealed to WSJ that the increasing number of Indian migrants has prompted them to adapt their services to accommodate dietary restrictions and consider religious and cultural differences.

In the words of Diego Piña Lopez to WSJ, "It used to be an annual thing that in the summers we would see small pockets of people coming from India. Now we are seeing people from India almost every day."

Deepak Ahluwalia, an immigration attorney representing individuals like Arshdeep Singh, who left India due to alleged threats from individuals affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, has told WSJ that a rising number of asylum cases related to political and religious persecution, particularly within the Sikh community.

The WSJ report also highlights "a lack of economic opportunities" in India as a contributing factor to the increasing trend of Indians seeking illegal migration to the United States.