Chicago – December 01, 2024
There has been a significant increase in the number of Indian nationals attempting to cross the U.S.-Canadian border illegally in recent years.
According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, nearly 44,000 Indian nationals tried to enter the U.S. illegally in fiscal year 2024. This sharply rose from about 30,000 in 2023 to 17,331 in 2022.
Indian nationals now make up the largest group of people caught attempting to cross the northern border illegally. In 2024, they represented about 22% of all land border encounters between the U.S. and Canada, totalling nearly 199,000.
These figures come as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to office with a focus on stronger border security, a key part of his campaign.
Trump recently met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. They discussed border security in a “very productive” meeting.
In response to growing concerns about border control, Canada has already begun tightening its border policies, including changes to its worker visa program, as reported by the Financial Times.
