According to data released by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), nearly 18,000 undocumented Indians are among the 1.45 million individuals facing deportation from the United States. “Deportation of undocumented immigrants is a cornerstone of Trump’s border security agenda,” the agency highlighted.
President-elect Donald Trump is set to assume office next month, and his administration is already ramping up efforts to implement stricter immigration policies.
The November 2024 ICE report reveals that 17,940 Indians are listed on its non-detained docket, which includes individuals with final orders of removal who are not currently in custody but are awaiting deportation. Many undocumented Indians are caught in a lengthy and complex legal process, with some waiting as long as three years for their cases to be resolved.
The report further designates India as one of 15 nations deemed “uncooperative” in the deportation process. ICE urged these nations to facilitate the process by conducting interviews, issuing timely travel documents, and accepting the physical return of their nationals via scheduled commercial or charter flights, as per established removal guidelines.
Notably, an average of 90,000 Indian nationals have been apprehended at the US border annually over the past three years for attempting to enter the country illegally. Experts point out that a significant number of these migrants come from Indian states such as Punjab, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
The report also emphasizes that the majority of undocumented immigrants in the US originate from countries closer to its borders. Honduras tops the list with 261,000 undocumented individuals, followed closely by Guatemala with 253,000.
Within Asia, China leads with 37,908 undocumented immigrants, while India ranks 13th overall with 17,940 individuals.
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