Indian nationals remain third-largest group at US borders despite a decline in illegal migration attempts

Indian nationals continued to rank as the third-largest group encountered by US border authorities in the 2026 fiscal year, despite a steep decline in illegal migration attempts following President Donald Trump's crackdown on unauthorised immigration.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data show that 30,528 Indian nationals were encountered by border authorities in FY26, which ran from October 2025 to September 2026. Only Mexican and Canadian nationals recorded higher numbers, with 1,23,439 and 37,700 encounters, respectively.

India ranked ahead of China, which recorded 29,818 encounters. The figures indicate that attempts by Indians to enter the US illegally continue despite tougher enforcement and the risks associated with the journey, commonly known as the 'donkey route'.


According to sources familiar with illegal immigration networks, a sizeable number of those attempting the journey are from Gujarat, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. Within Gujarat, people from North and Central Gujarat continue to figure prominently among those seeking to enter the US through unauthorised routes.

Illegal migration encounters from India fall nearly 64%

The number of Indian nationals encountered at US borders has declined considerably over the past three fiscal years. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded 90,415 encounters involving Indians in FY24. This fell to 34,146 in FY25 and further to 30,528 in FY26, marking a decline of nearly 64% from FY24.

The reduction coincides with the Trump administration's tougher immigration enforcement measures. Trump returned to the White House on January 20, 2025, after winning the November 2024 presidential election, with a crackdown on illegal immigration among his administration's major priorities.

The decline in Indian encounters is part of a wider fall in unauthorised migration to the US. CBP recorded 3,82,490 border encounters across nationalities in FY26, nearly 45% below the 6,91,906 recorded in FY25. The corresponding figures were considerably higher in FY24 and FY23, at around 29 lakh and 32 lakh, respectively.

Among other nationalities, Guatemala accounted for 18,319 encounters, followed by the Philippines with 17,985 and Honduras with 13,005. Brazil recorded 6,285, Russia 5,327 and Venezuela 4,945. Nationals of other countries, grouped, accounted for 63,678 encounters.

Gujarat continues to bear the human cost

The continuing attempts to reach the US illegally have also resulted in fatalities and disappearances. At least 11 people from Gujarat died and another 11 were injured or went missing between 2022 and 2025 while attempting the journey.

One of the most devastating incidents occurred on January 19, 2022, when four members of a family from Dingucha village in Gujarat's Gandhinagar district froze to death near the US-Canada border. Jagdish Patel, 30, his wife Vaishali, 37, and their children Vihang, 13, and Dharmik, aged three, were found dead near Emerson in Manitoba, Canada, around 10 metres from the border. The family had been travelling on foot when they were caught in a blizzard.

On March 28, 2023, four members of a family from Manekpura village in Mehsana district drowned after a boat capsized. Another tragedy occurred on May 5, 2025, when two children from Mehsana drowned off the California coast.

Despite these incidents, illegal migration networks continue to attract people with the promise of better financial prospects in the US.

A source familiar with the networks said, "Though people have been shunted out of the US through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown, a large number of Gujaratis mainly from North and Central Gujarat are sneaking into America for better financial security."

The source added that attempts to enter through the Mexican and Canadian borders were continuing, with individuals reportedly paying between Rs 80 lakh and Rs 1.25 crore for the journey.

- Reference taken from TOI