After Mexico and El Salvador, the U.S. has the third-largest population of undocumented Indians. A study by Pew Research Center between 2019 and 2022 reveals approximately 725,000 Indians live without documentation, facing challenging circumstances and working at half-pay to someday fulfill their American Dream. However, the fear looms that President Donald Trump might send them back as part of his crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The undocumented Indian population in America comprises about 725,000 individuals. These individuals often stay for years, hoping for citizenship or for their children to gain American status. Though past leaders have spoken against unauthorized immigration, the threat of deportation has never been as significant as it is now.
On assuming office, the Trump administration began identifying potential deportees, which includes undocumented Indians. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suggests approximately 18,000 undocumented Indians could be deported first.
How They Reach America Without Documents
The allure of the American Dream draws people worldwide, believing it's a land of possibilities without discrimination. Those unable to enter legally often resort to subversive means, taking what's known as the 'Donkey Route' to sneak into the U.S.
Source: aajtak
Dangers Along the Way
A journey that should take hours can become weeks or months. Some tragically perish along perilous paths, like the Gujarati family that died crossing from Canada to the U.S. two years ago.
Agents promising safe passage might deceive hopefuls. Upon nearing the American border, there's the constant fear of being caught by border guards, leading to potential deportation. Upon arrival, blending in doesn't signal the end of danger—another battle begins, fraught with risk.
Challenges Ahead for Undocumented Residents
Without documentation, jobs are nearly impossible to secure directly. Agents place these individuals in jobs far beneath their skills, often at lower wages. The fear of revelation silences their protests. Many end up in construction roles, where risks abound.
Socially, life remains bleak. Many undocumented Indians flock to states with existing Indian communities, hoping for a sense of belonging, but they often remain isolated—legal residents tend to avoid them.
Fear of Neighbors
Think tank 'Center for American Progress' notes that immigrants, regardless of origin, often avoid interacting with neighbors or officials to maintain secrecy. This results in limited access to social policies, such as healthcare or job assistance.
Source: aajtak
Prone to Arrest for Any Crime
Organizations like the Secure Community Network focus on the safety of Jews but also extend their work to other immigrants. They report that petty crimes often draw unwanted police attention to foreigners, leading to arrests without the same legal aid available to citizens.
Even as crime victims, these individuals remain silent, often relying on legal acquaintances to report incidents due to fear. Years are spent under these conditions, hoping for eventual American citizenship for themselves or their children, with the aid of social agencies—a difficult process that not all survive.
Securing documents in America isn't easy, and undocumented immigrants can't apply for green cards. Those staying illegally for over a year face a three-year ban, while longer stays incur a ten-year ban.
Source: aajtak
Will Mass Deportation Really Happen?
Trump spoke of large-scale deportation upon his election, a process now set in motion. Deportees are being selected to prioritize returns, though it’s no easy feat.
Trump's Actions in His First Term
During his first term, about 1.5 million people were deported—half his intended number. Republicans had promised the deportation of 3 million illegal immigrants. Notable crackdowns and arrests took place in 2019, just before elections, but these efforts made little impact.
Financial and Temporal Costs
Deporting millions is costly, demanding logistical work. In 2016, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) estimated the cost of detaining deporting an undocumented immigrant at about $11 million. Mass deportation could thus cost tens of billions.
Logistical Challenges
Currently, there aren't enough detention centers to house millions of undocumented refugees, necessitating costly new constructions.
Source: aajtak
Each Case Takes a Thousand Days
Before deportation, cases undergo judicial review involving judges, lawyers, and legal procedures. The drawn-out process weakens implementation. Immigration court backlogs have surpassed 3.5 million cases during the Biden administration.
Some Countries Reject Deportees
Some immigrants come from nations with strained diplomatic relations with the U.S., like Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia—countries that might refuse their citizens' return, leaving the U.S. no choice but to retain them. Efforts during the Trump era to pressurize nations proved futile.
America's economy could significantly suffer, relying heavily on undocumented laborers in industries like construction and agriculture. Many institutions oppose deportation, citing potential economic harm masked in humane rhetoric.
