Nearly 18,000 undocumented Indians are at risk of deportation in the United States, data has shown ahead of the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data, 17,940 Indians are among the 1.445 million individuals facing final orders of removal.
For many of these undocumented Indians, securing legal status remains a major challenge. Many individuals become embroiled in lengthy legal proceedings, with hearings often scheduled far into the future. Over the past three years, ICE has caught an average of 90,000 Indian citizens every year trying to enter the US illegally.
According to local immigration experts, a large portion of the undocumented Indians facing deportation come from the high-migration states of Punjab, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. India ranks 13th on ICE’s list of 208 countries with undocumented immigrants in the US, after countries like Honduras and Guatemala. India is one of the few Asian countries on the list along with China, which has 37,908 undocumented citizens in the country.
Further complicating the issue, India has been labeled “uncooperative” by ICE due to delays in verifying citizenship and issuing travel documents for deportation. The US expects countries to assist their citizens by confirming their nationality, conducting interviews, and facilitating their return via commercial or charter flights. India is currently one of the 15 countries classified as non-cooperative, along with Pakistan, China, Iran and Venezuela.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration laws, focusing on the identification, arrest, detention, and deportation of noncitizens who violate those laws.
In a recent press release, ICE focused on national security and public safety. “ERO officers prioritize enforcement actions based on agency and department priorities, funding, and capacity,” the department said, adding that their operations address situations such as increased border crossings, changes in U.S. laws and unexpected events such as the pandemic. Were flexible enough to do so. Natural disasters.
The incoming Donald Trump administration has made it clear that it will step up efforts to remove undocumented immigrants. As part of his immigration policy, Trump has promised to prioritize deportation of individuals with final removal orders, including those from India. The president-elect has also talked about his plans to involve the US military in deportation efforts, calling illegal immigration a national security threat that requires decisive action.
Following his re-election in November, Trump reaffirmed his pledge to reduce both legal and illegal immigration, promising to strengthen deportation efforts as part of his comprehensive plan.
