Recent research has uncovered the complex dynamics surrounding the undocumented Indian population in the U.S., highlighting a significant drop in numbers, a rise in asylum claims, and shifts in migration routes, revealing the interplay between wealth, aspiration, and opportunity.
The Hidden Reality: Unveiling the Lives of Undocumented Indians in America
The Hidden Reality: Unveiling the Lives of Undocumented Indians in America
Insights into the undocumented Indian immigrant population, their demographics, and the implications of rising asylum requests amid a changing socio-political landscape.
Recent analysis published by Johns Hopkins University reveals the multifaceted reality of undocumented Indian immigrants residing in the United States. With former President Donald Trump emphasizing mass deportations, an estimated 18,000 undocumented Indian nationals have been identified as potential targets for removal. In a recent tour in Washington, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed to repatriating illegal Indian nationals and confronting the severe issue of human trafficking that lures individuals from modest backgrounds into a perilous journey abroad.
As the report by researchers Abby Budiman and Devesh Kapur delineates, the figures and trends concerning undocumented Indians vary widely among different research entities. For instance, the Pew Research Center and the Center for Migration Studies estimated that approximately 700,000 Indians lived in the U.S. undocumented as of 2022, making them the third largest foreign-born community in the nation, while the Migration Policy Institute estimated a much lower figure of 375,000.
Despite these discrepancies, it is noteworthy that the number of undocumented Indians has markedly decreased from a peak of 560,000 in 2016 to an estimated 220,000 by 2022, with speculations on increased legal residency statuses or returns to India owing to challenges like the pandemic. However, data from 2023 suggests a resurgence of individuals crossing borders, particularly from northern Canada, where visa processing times have been lower, transforming it into an increasingly popular entry point.
The report identifies regions with strong Indian immigrant populations—California, Texas, New Jersey, and New York—also harboring sizable undocumented communities. Asylum claims have seen a striking increase, influenced primarily by Punjabi speakers, who formed over 66% of Indian asylum cases from 2001 to 2022, and have exhibited high approval rates.
As the swell of migration continues, there is an observable trend of increasing asylum requests linked less to persecution and more to the pursuit of economic opportunities, primarily from wealthier Indian regions such as Punjab and Gujarat. Despite rising claims, records point towards a continued decline in the number of Indians qualifying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which protects children who immigrated to the U.S. It remains to be seen how these dynamics, entwined with the broader sociopolitical climate, will influence the future of Indian immigration to the United States.
