Fourth Largest Group Of ICE Detainees: Indian Nationals

Photo:ICE

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report, shows a significant rise in immigration enforcement actions and its affected Indian nationals.

According to ICE, 2,647 Indian nationals are currently detained in U.S. facilities, making them the fourth-largest group of detainees by nationality, following Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.

In addition, 17,940 Indian nationals with final removal orders are on ICE’s non-detained docket, monitored while awaiting deportation.

Deportations of Indian nationals have surged, with 1,529 removals in FY 2024, a significant increase from 292 in FY 2021.

ICE’s total deportations across all nationalities also increased, reaching 271,484 this fiscal year compared to 59,011 in FY 2021.

Earlier, US Customs and Border Protection data had shown that between February 2019 and March 2023, a staggering 149,000 Indians had been detained while attempting illegal entry into the US. Moreover, during this escalating problem, over 1,600 more people crossed the northern border.

Many of these Indian immigrants enter the country for economic reasons, although they are not eligible for asylum, the Wall Street Journal pointed out.  A significant motivating factor for these migrants is the influence of other Indians who have successfully found employment in the US through similar means, the paper said.

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