Among the illegal migrants in the US, Indians ranked third after Mexico and El Salvador, according to an analysis by Pew Research Center for the 2019-22 period. The report raises concerns now as the US gears up for mass deportations of illegal immigrants.
The growing number of illegal immigrants has gained significant attention after the US President signed an executive order and began a crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Last week, the US government began the “largest mass deportation operation in history," fulfilling one of Trump's poll promises.
There has been a significant growth in illegal immigrants in the US from India, Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Ecuador from 2019 to 2022, the Pew report notes. Mexico accounts for the highest number of illegal immigrants in the US, with nearly 40 lakh people, followed by El Salvador at 7.5 lakh and India with 7.25 lakh immigrants.
In 2023 alone, nearly 90,000 Indians were arrested as they tried to enter the United States illegally,a New York Times report citing US government data, revealed.
However, the deportations from the United States to India were not new. Last year, more than 1,000 Indians were sent back. The Indian government is currently working with the Trump administration to take back illegal immigrants.
On January 22, Donald Trump signed an executive order that “suspends the physical entry of aliens engaged in an invasion of the United States through the southern border.”
“Illegal immigration costs our country billions and billions of dollars each year…And I will therefore take every lawful action at my disposal to address this crisis. And that’s what we’re doing,” he added.
Both India and the US have identified nearly 18,000 Indian illegal immigrants who were to be sent back, Bloomberg reported. However, this number could be much higher as the number of illegal immigrants living in the US is unclear.
On Friday, India's Ministry of External Affairs said India would take illegal migrants back if their nationality is confirmed.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)
