INVC NEWS
Washington : In a startling revelation, nearly 97,000 Indians embarked on a perilous journey to enter the United States illegally in the span of just one year, from October 2022 to September 2023. This unprecedented surge in illegal immigration from India has raised eyebrows and concerns, prompting a closer examination of the underlying factors driving this phenomenon. According to data provided by the US Customs and Border Protection agency, a staggering 30,010 Indians were apprehended while attempting to cross the US-Canada border, while another 41,770 were arrested at the US-Mexico border.
The Desperate Pursuit of the American Dream
The harrowing accounts of these individuals reveal that they are fleeing desperate circumstances in their homeland, driven primarily by religious persecution and the crippling lack of employment opportunities. American MP James Lankford, addressing this issue in Parliament, emphasized that approximately 45,000 Indians successfully crossed into the United States via its southern border during the same one-year period.
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Religious Persecution and Economic Hardships
The Wall Street Journal, a respected American media outlet, has shed light on the root causes of this unprecedented influx. It attributes the surge in Indian immigration to increasing levels of political and religious persecution in India. Additionally, the glaring absence of economic opportunities, particularly in terms of employment, has become a significant driving force compelling Indians to embark on this risky journey.
A Staggering Increase
The statistics reveal a startling trend: between 2012 and 2022, the number of Indians entering the United States through Mexico has skyrocketed by a staggering 100-fold. In 2012, the US Customs and Border Patrol Police recorded a mere 642 cases of illegal Indian immigration. However, by the year 2022, this figure had surged to a staggering 63,927.
The Third Largest Influx
Notably, according to research conducted by the New American Economy think tank, Indians currently occupy the third position in the ranks of those entering the United States illegally. This finding underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency of addressing its root causes.
A Desperate Pursuit of the American Dream
Desperation drives these individuals to risk life and limb in pursuit of the elusive American Dream. Tragic incidents bear witness to the hardships faced by those on this arduous journey. In January of the previous year, the lifeless bodies of four members of a Gujarati family were discovered buried under a blanket of snow in Canada, just 30 miles east of the American border. Their ill-fated attempt to enter the United States illegally ended in tragedy as they succumbed to the merciless snowstorm.
Rescue at Sea
Similarly, in June of the same year, a team from the US border patrol was compelled to rescue six stranded Indians from a sinking boat. These individuals found themselves facing legal repercussions for their unauthorized entry into the United States.
The Dark Underbelly of Illegal Immigration
In 2022, the US federal agency uncovered a deeply entrenched network facilitating the illegal entry of Indians through the Canadian border. The mastermind behind this operation, Jaspal Gill, operated out of California and orchestrated the transportation of thousands of Indians to America, using unsuspecting Uber cabs as a covert mode of transportation. Gill extracted exorbitant sums ranging from Rs 23 lakh to Rs 55 lakh from each individual, who were initially brought to Canada on tourist visas. Subsequently, they were smuggled into the United States using forged documents, all orchestrated through Uber cabs.
The escalating numbers of Indians undertaking perilous journeys to enter the United States illegally underscore the pressing need to address the root causes of this phenomenon. The confluence of religious persecution, economic hardships, and the pursuit of the American Dream has created a complex and challenging situation that warrants a comprehensive and empathetic response. As we continue to navigate the intricacies of this issue, it is imperative to keep in mind the human lives at stake and the imperative to find viable solutions that can ensure a brighter future for all.
