Indian Illegal Immigration to the U.S. Sees a Dramatic 77% Drop Under Trump Administration

Washington Indian illegal immigration to the United States has plunged sharply by 77% in the first 9 months of the Trump administration, according to data released by the US Customs and Border Protection agency reviewed by HT. Between January to September 2024, US border agencies reported 66,524 border encounters with illegal Indian migrations. However, that number fell to just 15,551 encounters during the same time period this year.

Migration experts have indicated that the Trump administration’s firm stance against granting asylum to undocumented migrants has deterred many from undertaking the costly and perilous journey from India to America. High-profile immigration enforcement actions and widely publicized deportations by the administration have also sent a strong deterrent message. Furthermore, the administration has actively engaged with Canada, Mexico, and several Central American nations, exerting diplomatic pressure to curb the flow of illegal migrants towards the United States.

“The Trump administration’s refusal to grant asylum to migrants at the border and other enforcement policies have impacted every nationality, but also Indians in particular. Being a group from outside the Western hemisphere means it is hard to reach the northern or southern US border. So any immigration restrictions would hit Indians the most,” stated Gill Guerra, an immigration policy analyst at the Niskanen Centre.

In contrast, the influx of Indian undocumented migrants saw a significant rise during the Biden administration. Fiscal year 2023 marked a peak, with border authorities encountering nearly 97,000 Indian migrants. The Pew Research Institute estimates that approximately 725,000 Indians are currently residing in the U.S. without legal status. Guerra noted that many recent instances of illegal migration were by individuals from Punjab and Haryana, who often cited political and religious discrimination in India as grounds for asylum. However, she believes that economic aspirations and the desire for a better life in America are the primary drivers for this migration.

“Many people in India saw videos of individuals successfully crossing through South America, having adventurous journeys, arriving in America, being allowed to work, and then leading fulfilling lives that were both interesting and provided income. The Trump administration, however, made it clear that illegal entry would result in significant financial loss due to deportation, and the process itself would be unpleasant,” Guerra explained.

Migrants from India typically attempted to enter the U.S. via either the northern border with Canada or the southern border with Mexico. In numerous cases, individuals paid substantial sums to reach the U.S. border, often traveling through various South American countries via challenging terrains.

Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute added that the reduction in illegal migration numbers began under the Biden administration, which introduced some initial restrictions on asylum claims. These measures were further intensified into a near-total ban on asylum grants under the Trump administration.

“Migrants are astute. If they perceive their chances of entering America as virtually zero, they will cease attempting the journey. This is the underlying reason for the decline in numbers,” Chishti commented.

Guerra anticipates that the low numbers of illegal immigration from India will persist for the remainder of the Trump administration. “I would be surprised if illegal immigration numbers from India were to increase significantly. I don’t foresee any scenario where these migration levels would rise,” Guerra concluded, also noting the Indian government’s willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on immigration control.