The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has classified India as a ‘non-cooperative’ country in matters related to the extradition of illegal immigrants.
This designation implies that India, among other nations, has not adequately supported the US in facilitating interviews, issuing travel documents on time, or arranging for the timely repatriation of its citizens.
Other countries on the list include Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and Venezuela.
18,000 Indians facing extradition
ICE's latest data reveals that out of 1.45 million planned deportations of illegal immigrants, 18,000 are Indian nationals.
Furthermore, nearly 90,000 Indians have been apprehended while attempting to enter the US illegally in recent years, with most originating from Punjab, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
Lengthy legalisation process
Many Indian immigrants try to regularise their immigration status, but the legalisation process in the US is known to be lengthy, often taking two to three years. Despite the challenges, India does not rank among the countries with the largest number of illegal immigrants in the US.
Honduras tops the list with 261,000 illegal immigrants.
Guatemala follows with 253,000.
Within Asia, China leads with 37,908 illegal immigrants, placing India at 13th overall.
Implications of stricter immigration policies
The incoming US President, Donald Trump, has vowed to implement tougher immigration policies. Trump plans to initiate the largest deportation campaign in US history, potentially affecting thousands of Indian immigrants facing final deportation orders.
Experts warn that this stance could strain India-US diplomatic relations, as deportation measures targeting Indian nationals may be seen as a lack of consideration for bilateral ties.
Source: NDTV