AHMEDABAD: The number of Indian nationals caught attempting to enter the United States illegally has fallen sharply, with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reporting a 62% decline in detentions over the past year — the steepest drop in four years.
Between October 2023 and September 2024, US authorities intercepted 34,146 Indians, down from 90,415 during the previous fiscal year. This marks the lowest figure since 2020 and signals both tighter enforcement and growing deterrence among potential migrants.
According to CBP data released on October 28, Indian nationals now make up a much smaller portion of total border “encounters.” In September — the final month of the US fiscal year — 1,147 Indians were detained. By comparison, 63,927 Indians were intercepted in FY 2022, showing a 47% decline since then.
Overall, the US recorded 2.9 million border encounters in FY 2024, down from 3.2 million the year before but slightly above 2.7 million in 2022.
Changing Patterns of Migration
Single adults continued to represent the majority of Indian migrants caught at the border — 31,480 individuals — while authorities also detained 2,552 family units, 91 unaccompanied children, and 23 minors travelling with adults.
Officials noted that the presence of unaccompanied minors remains a serious humanitarian concern, reflecting families’ desperation and misplaced hopes for leniency in US immigration processing.
Fewer ‘Dunki Routes’ from Gujarat
In Gujarat, particularly in the north and central regions long associated with the so-called “dunki routes”—illegal migration networks—agents appear to have scaled back operations. The shift follows a series of tragedies, including the 2022 death of a family from Dingucha on the US-Canada border and another near the Rio Grande in 2023, which drew widespread attention and warnings from both governments.
Experts: Risks Rising, Not Aspirations Falling
Migration analysts say the drop reflects both tougher enforcement and shifting public sentiment. “The American route is still viewed as a life-changing gamble,” a senior immigration official said. “The decline in numbers doesn’t mean the desire has vanished — only that the risks have become clearer and costlier.”
Despite the fall in crossings, economic stagnation, limited job opportunities, and aspirations for higher education and foreign remittances continue to drive migration dreams in states like Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. Officials attributed the decline in detentions to stricter US border controls, greater awareness of migration dangers, and changing smuggling tactics.
