Deportation Fears Mount for Indian-American Children as They Turn 21

Over 250,000 children of legal immigrants, many of whom are Indian-Americans, are at risk of deportation as they turn 21. These children, known as 'Documented Dreamers,' came to the US with their parents on temporary work visas. Once they reach 21, they lose their dependent status and face deportation.

A study by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) using data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shows that more than 1.2 million Indians, including their dependents, are waiting for green cards in the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories. US immigration law defines a child as someone under 21 who is unmarried. When these children turn 21 before their green card application is approved, they "age out," meaning they are no longer considered children for immigration purposes. This forces them to reapply, endure longer waits or become ineligible for a green card.

The White House has blamed the Republicans for blocking legislation that could help these 'Documented Dreamers.' White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that a bipartisan agreement to address this issue was twice rejected by Republicans.

On June 13, a group of 43 lawmakers, led by Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Deborah Ross, urged the Biden Administration to act swiftly. They stressed that these young people, who have grown up and been educated in the US face uncertainty because of the green card backlog despite their families having approved immigrant petitions.

Advocacy groups like Improve The Dream have been pushing for solutions. Dip Patel, the founder, expressed frustration over the lack of action and delayed regulations. Patel hopes the administration will recognize the bipartisan support for this issue and take steps to protect these individuals.

Personal stories of 'Documented Dreamers' highlight their emotional and practical challenges. For example, Jefrina, who came to the US at age 7, and Praneetha, who arrived at age 8, have relied on temporary visa solutions to avoid deportation. Despite being a graduate student and a cloud engineer, respectively, they still face uncertainty regarding their residency status.

Roshan who came to the US at age 10, had to leave the country last month after aging out in 2019, despite spending almost 16 years in the US. Dwarkesh Patel, a podcaster, shared his own story of how the green card process has left him in a precarious situation.