Illegal immigration from India to the United States remains a significant issue. Data from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the fiscal year 2024 shows that out of 2.9 million illegal immigrants apprehended at US borders, 90,415 were from India. Of these, nearly 50% came from Gujarat.
On average, 10 Indians were arrested every hour for attempting to cross into the US illegally. Many were caught at the US-Canada border, with 43,764 arrests made there—the highest number of Indian nationals detained at this border to date.
Although the number of Indian immigrants using the Mexico route has slightly declined, many still attempt this dangerous journey. Factors such as increased US vigilance and disruptions in human smuggling networks have contributed to this decline. However, some immigrants have shifted their focus to crossing from Canada, often using visitor visas to enter and then attempting illegal crossings.
While these arrests are significant, they only represent a portion of those attempting to enter the US illegally. Many more may have successfully crossed without detection.