Jaspal Singh, an Indian national involving in two unauthorized entries into America, has passed away at the age of 57. Arrested in 2023 for his illegal entry, Singh was awaiting deportation back to India but died in an Atlanta hospital beforehand.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) affirmed that information about Singh's death was communicated to the Indian Consulate in New York. His relatives were also notified.
Authorities revealed that Singh died on April 15th in an Atlanta hospital, yet the exact cause of his death has not been determined.
According to a news agency, Singh first entered the US illegally on October 25, 1992. On January 21, 1998, a court ordered his removal from the country, after which he chose to return to India voluntarily.
In 2023, a Second Unauthorized Entry Attempt
On June 29, 2023, US Customs and Border Protection arrested Singh as he attempted to stealthily cross the border from Mexico into the United States.
Post-arrest, Singh was turned over to the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Atlanta, where he was detained.
Thousands of Indians Attempt Illegal Entry Annually
Every year, thousands of Indians attempt unauthorized entry into the US. Following COVID-19 restrictions lifting, the number of Indians entering without proper documentation has surged, primarily via the Canadian and Mexican borders.
US government data indicates that from October 2022 to September 2023, 96,917 Indians were caught attempting border entries without documentation. Some were detained while others were sent back.
In the previous year, the number stood at 63,927, considerably increasing from the 30,662 detained in 2020-21.
