US to clamp down Illegal Immigration

United States President Donald Trump launched a crackdown on immigration, soon after assuming office. From his bid to end birthright citizenship to mobilising troops along the US-Mexico border, he took a hardline approach to illegal immigration. Amid Trump’s sweeping immigration clampdown, reports have emerged that India is planning to take back all its nationals living illegally in the US.

Illegal Indian Migrants in the US:

• As of 2022, there were around 220,000 illegal Indian immigrants in the US. Indians make up the third-largest group of undocumented migrants in the country, after Mexico and El Salvador.
• The total number of undocumented migrants in the US is approximately 11 million, with many of them facing deportation orders.
• Among them, about 20,407 Indians are either in detention or facing final removal orders by the US authorities.
• India is actively engaged in repatriating illegal Indian immigrants. The US is planning to deport about 18,000 Indians back to India, and the process of identifying and returning these migrants has already started.
• Major border points for S. entry.
  • Land Border Points (with Canada and Mexico):
    • S.-Mexico Border: Key crossings include San Ysidro (California), El Paso (Texas), Laredo (Texas), Nogales (Arizona), and Brownsville (Texas).
    • S.-Canada Border: Key crossings include Detroit-Windsor (Michigan-Ontario), Niagara Falls (New York-Ontario), Seattle-Vancouver (Washington-British Columbia), and Port Huron-Sarnia (Michigan-Ontario).
  • Sea Ports of Entry: Major sea ports include Port of Los Angeles, Port of New York/New Jersey, Port of Miami, Port of Houston, and Port of Seattle.

Why India is cooperating?

• By agreeing to take back its nationals, India is strengthening its relationship with the US under Trump’s administration. India hopes that this cooperation will help protect the interests of its citizens, particularly in securing visas and work opportunities.
• India is also hoping that this move will help deter secessionist movements, such as the Khalistan movement, among the Indian diaspora in the US.
• Additionally, India is trying to avoid a trade dispute with the US. Trump has criticized India’s high import taxes, and India wants to prevent any retaliatory measures that could hurt trade.

India’s challenges with illegal immigration

• Both India and the U.S. face significant challenges with illegal immigration, but the scale, causes, and responses differ greatly.
• India’s challenge primarily comes from Bangladesh, with an estimated 20 million illegal immigrants residing in the country, according to 2016 estimates. The issue is particularly concentrated in border states like Assam, where tensions are high due to the influx of migrants, especially after political turmoil in Bangladesh.

• India shares a 4,096-km border with Bangladesh, which is largely porous and difficult to control. The border includes rivers, marshes, and densely populated villages, making fencing and surveillance challenging.
• Resistance: India’s efforts to fence this border have been met with resistance from Bangladesh. In January 2025, there was a confrontation between India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh's Border Guard (BGB) over fencing projects, with Bangladesh citing a 1975 agreement that prohibits certain border construction.