Record Number of Indians Arrested While Crossing US Border Illegally
A record-breaking 96,917 Indians were apprehended while attempting to cross the United States border illegally between October 2022 and September 2023, according to the latest data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (UCBP). This represents a significant five-fold increase in illegal crossings by Indians in recent years.
Surge in Indian Arrests at the US Border
The figures reveal a stark escalation in the number of Indians attempting to enter the US unlawfully. In 2019-2020, 19,883 Indians were apprehended, while in the following year, the number rose to 30,662. In the most recent fiscal year, 2021-2022, a staggering 63,927 Indians were arrested while attempting to cross the border.
Moreover, of the 96,917 Indians arrested between October 2022 and September 2023, a significant portion was caught on the Canadian border (30,010) and at the frontier with Mexico (41,770).
Classification of Arrested Individuals
The data indicates that the arrested Indians fall into four distinct categories: Accompanied Minors (AM), Individuals in a Family Unit (FMUA), Single Adults, and Unaccompanied Children (UC). Single adults make up the largest category, with a staggering 84,000 Indian adults crossing into the United States illegally in the fiscal year 2023. Additionally, 730 unaccompanied minors were among those arrested.
Senator Highlights Coordinated Effort to Exploit US Asylum System
During a Senate floor speech, Senator James Lankford shed light on the tactics employed by migrants from India to take advantage of the US asylum system. He revealed that these individuals often take a convoluted route by taking multiple flights, including layovers in countries like France, to reach Mexico, which hosts the closest airport. From there, they rely on buses provided by criminal cartels to be smuggled to the US border, claiming asylum upon arrival.
Senator Lankford expressed his concern over the fact that thousands of people from India had managed to pay the cartels, illegally cross the southern border, and declare fear of persecution in their home country. He emphasized that criminal cartels in Mexico actively coach migrants from around the world on how to manipulate the asylum process and gain entry into the United States while awaiting an asylum hearing.
Addressing America’s Broken Asylum System
Senator Lankford criticized the current state of America’s asylum system, highlighting the need for policy reforms. He noted that asylum and refugee status are equivalent under international law. According to the senator, refugees flee their home countries due to fear of persecution, seek safety at refugee centers, and inform the United Nations of their plight. If confirmed, they are resettled around the world, including the United States.
Senator Lankford further argued that the same standard should apply to asylum seekers, who are expected to seek refuge in the nearest safe location and file their asylum claims there. However, he pointed out that this principle is not consistently followed in the United States, leaving the system vulnerable to exploitation by individuals seeking to enter the country illegally.
In conclusion, the latest data on the number of Indians arrested while crossing the US border illegally highlights a concerning trend. The surge in illegal crossings by Indians raises questions about the efficacy of America’s asylum system and its vulnerability to abuse. With Senator Lankford’s remarks drawing attention to these issues, the urgent need for reforms in US immigration policy becomes evident in order to maintain the integrity of the asylum process.