US (Washington Insider Magazine) —The United States is witnessing a significant increase in undocumented migrants from India, with a growing number bypassing the U.S.-Mexico border and entering through Canada. In fiscal year 2023, nearly 97,000 Indian migrants were encountered nationwide, including more than 30,000 at the northern border, per Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) data. This influx is straining border security in northern U.S. states and unsettling local communities.
Experts attribute this surge partly to perceptions of lenient U.S. asylum policies and the Biden administration’s approach to immigration. Many migrants, influenced by the upcoming U.S. presidential election, are seeking asylum before any potential policy shifts.
The Indian migrant population, the third-largest group of undocumented migrants in the U.S., has risen sharply over recent years. According to a Pew Research Center report, there were about 725,000 undocumented Indians in 2021. Most migrants are not the highly educated professionals often associated with Indian immigration but are individuals seeking economic opportunities unavailable in India.
Unlike traditional economic migrants from poorer backgrounds, many Indian migrants are relatively affluent. Originating mainly from the prosperous states of Punjab and Gujarat, they fund their journeys by selling property or taking high-interest loans to afford the $50,000 required for the “donkey route,” a treacherous, multi-country path often facilitated by human trafficking networks.
Canada’s relatively accessible student visa system has made it an appealing stepping stone. The country’s visa policies, particularly its openness to international students, have encouraged many Indians to first establish themselves in Canada before moving to the U.S. Seeking better economic prospects, many migrants use the Canada-U.S. border as a safer, quicker alternative to the U.S.-Mexico route.
Canada’s immigration agency has affirmed its commitment to screening visa applicants while maintaining people-to-people connections. Meanwhile, the Canadian government is grappling with the implications of its visa policies, which have indirectly facilitated U.S. border crossings.
The presence of established Indian-American communities, particularly in the Chicago area, is another draw. A recently uncovered smuggling network showed that many Gujarati migrants entering the U.S. from Canada were directly connected to Gujarati American-owned businesses.
The journey across the Canada-U.S. border, however, can be perilous. In 2022, a family of four from India froze to death just yards from the border in Manitoba, and in 2023, the bodies of eight migrants, including four Indians, were recovered from the St. Lawrence River.
Canadian immigration lawyer Maureen Silcoff highlighted the severe risks migrants face, pointing out that these journeys are often driven by desperation rather than mere ambition. “People don’t simply leave their homes and communities for adventure; they seek relief from hardship and, at times, escape from human rights abuses,” she said.
As the U.S. and Canadian authorities work to address this trend, both countries are confronted with complex questions about migration, safety, and the economic forces shaping cross-border movements.
