Indians Increasingly Attempting Illegal Entry Into US Via Canada, Over 43,000 Detained This Year

The issue of illegal immigration along the Canada-US border has become a significant point of contention between the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.

Recent years have witnessed a surge in the number of Indian nationals attempting to cross the border into the United States illegally, reported Hindustan Times.

Photo Credit: PTI

Data from the US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) indicates a substantial rise in such attempts. In the 2022 fiscal year (October 2021-September 2022), Indians accounted for nearly 16% of the 109,535 overall attempted illegal crossings.

This figure remained consistent in 2023, although the total number of crossings rose significantly to 189,402, with 30,010 Indians making up 16% of the total. The trend has continued this year, with 43,764 Indians-representing approximately 22% of the total 198,929-apprehended while attempting to enter the US illegally.

It is important to note that these statistics only include individuals intercepted by border officers, and the number of undetected crossings remains unknown.

Trump's Stance on the Border Issue

Donald Trump has stated that resolving the border issue is essential for Canada to avoid facing a 25% tariff. This concern was reportedly among the topics discussed when Trudeau made an unexpected visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida for US Thanksgiving.

Canadian media reported that Trudeau was accompanied by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who oversees the Canadian Border Services Agency, the counterpart to USCBP.

Why Indians Are Using the Canada-US Border

The Washington DC-based think tank Niskanen Center highlighted in a September analysis that "Canada is increasingly a more accessible entry point for Indians."

The report attributed this to the quicker processing times for Canadian visitor visas, which average 76 days, compared to nearly a year for US visa appointments. It also noted the logistical challenges of patrolling the longer and less fortified US-Canada border compared to the US-Mexico border.

The report further suggested that the Khalistan issue may be a contributing factor, stating, "Given that many recent irregular migrants from India are originating from Punjab, a predominantly Sikh state, and are increasingly crossing through Canada while being granted asylum at high rates in the US, this issue has the potential to become a point of trilateral contention in the future."

However, it noted that Indian policymakers appear to view these migrants primarily as economically motivated individuals unlikely to engage seriously in separatist activities once settled in the US.