US border sees increase in Indian children amid illegal entry attempts

At least one Indian child is being detected at the US border every three days, according to recent data from the United States Customs and Border Protection, highlighting a growing concern around irregular migration, as reported by Times of India. Between October 2025 and February 2026, 56 Indian children were identified, including 39 unaccompanied minors and 17 travelling with adults.

As per the data, there is a shift in migration trends, with children increasingly involved in risky and illegal border crossings. Across all nationalities, 4,247 unaccompanied minors were detected between October and March, including 43 Indians.

Use of children in illegal crossings raises concern

Month-wise figures show a rise in cases, with seven Indian unaccompanied minors recorded in both October and November, eight in December and a spike to 13 in January 2026. The numbers dropped to four each in February and March. The January increase brought attention back to the death of a family from Gujarat’s Dingucha village, who died in extreme cold while attempting to cross into the US via Canada.

After a decline in recent years, from 730 cases in FY2023 to 517 in FY2024 and 91 in FY2025, the latest figures suggest a reversal in the trend.

Authorities have also flagged a rise in cases involving children travelling with adults. Of the 669 accompanied minors detected across nationalities between October and March, 26 were Indians. Monthly data shows four cases in November, six in December, two in January, five in February and nine in March.

Officials said some networks are pairing children with unrelated adults to form false family units to ease entry. “Once inside US territory, children are sent to border agencies, after which handlers posing as guardians claim them. This helps illegal immigrants secure shelter and eventually legal pathways,” an official said, as qupted .

(With TOI inputs)