For decades, the US has remained a powerful fixation in India’s migration story. The pull persists despite repeated tragedies, failed crossings and harsh legal consequences. Every crackdown is followed by new attempts. Every warning is matched by fresh risk-taking. The data once again shows how deeply this obsession runs.
In 2025, one Indian was caught at the US border every 20 minutes, claims a report by a national daily.
Illegal migration continued despite tighter enforcement under President Donald Trump. US Customs and Border Protection reported 23,830 Indians intercepted between January and December.
The number was far lower than the 85,119 recorded in 2024, the report adds.
Even so, India remained among the top source countries for illegal migrants to the US.
Most of those caught were single adults. They were seeking jobs and higher pay. US agencies also flagged a worrying trend. Unaccompanied children were being found near the borders.
Nearly four years after the January 2022 Dingucha tragedy, the pattern remains unchanged. In that incident, four members of a family from Gujarat died while crossing from Canada into the US. Children are still being discovered abandoned during similar journeys.
The data shows a clear trend. Stronger enforcement has reduced numbers. It has not stopped attempts. For many migrants, the economic promise of the US outweighs the risks. Dangerous routes, strict patrols and harsh penalties have not acted as enough of a deterrent.
US border officials linked the decline to multiple factors. Surveillance has increased. Policies changed under the Trump administration. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched an aggressive enforcement drive.
Smuggling routes have narrowed. Border patrols have expanded. Penalties have become tougher. Yet crossings continue.
Experts tracking migration flows told the media house that the data pointed to deterrence rather than elimination. They said the economic and social pull of the US remained strong, while smuggling networks quickly altered routes when pressure increased.
Indian agencies monitoring illegal migration shared a similar assessment. A senior officer said there had been a massive drop due to stricter US policies and a broad crackdown by agencies including ICE. However, the officer added that the numbers persisted because the aspiration to settle in the US, especially among Gujaratis, continued.
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