According to data examined by The Indian Express, the number of illegal Indians entering the US on foot from Canada has increased to an all-time high. The surge has brought attention to Canada’s visa screening procedure, especially in light of concurrent worries about Indian passengers travelling to Canada who are requesting refuge in the UK throughout their journey.
The most recent statistics available from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicate that 5,152 illegal Indians crossed the border into the US on foot from Canada in June alone, setting a record. Additionally, starting December 2023, the number of Indians entering the US via Canada has overtaken that of those arriving by the infamous Mexico route.
The US-Canada border, the world’s longest open border, has seen a 47% increase in Indians caught in “encounters” between January and June 2023, compared to 2,548 in 2023. This contrasts with the growing economic influence of the legally settled Indian population in the US, who make up only 1.5% of the population but pay 5-6% of all income taxes.
The number of Indians seeking asylum in the UK has increased by 136% in 2022, with 475 asylum seekers recorded until June. A significant share of these applicants are Canada-bound transit passengers with a stopover in the UK. The US and UK have communicated concerns to Canada, with the UK proposing that all Canada-bound Indian nationals obtain transit visa for stopovers.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is working to understand the factors and facilitation networks behind activities with the UK and the US. The UK Home Office is committed to preventing abuse of the asylum system and assesses every asylum claim on its merits. The US Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment on internal diplomatic discussions, while the Department of Homeland Security is removing Indian nationals without a legal basis to remain, including via charter removal flights. The UK Home Office is committed to ensuring the rights of all asylum seekers.
Canada is experiencing a significant increase in asylum claims from Indian nationals, according to its Refugee Protection Division. The rise in claims began in 2017 when Canada relaxed its visa policy to attract foreign students. Between 2016 and 2022, the number of international students in Canada surged by 61%, with their spending increasing from $15.5 billion to $37.3 billion.
Despite recent course corrections, Indian immigrants venturing into the US on foot have shifted overwhelmingly to the northern border, surpassing Mexico’s numbers by December 2023. During January-June 2024, the northern border became twice as busy as the southwestern border.
The US Presidential Proclamation and asylum eligibility linkage have reduced the number of encounters at the Mexico border by over 50%. However, these restrictions do not apply to the northern border, making it more dangerous and difficult to enter. The Northern Border Security Caucus, formed by 28 US Congress members, is pushing Homeland Security against increased human and drug trafficking. Migrants from the US are now moving south due to limited opportunities to stay and work in Canada.
The UK has seen a significant increase in the number of undocumented Indian asylum seekers, with an 11-fold increase between 2018 and 2023. This is largely due to the exemption for Canada-bound Indians from obtaining transit visas for London stopovers. The surge was particularly noticeable in the last quarter of 2021 after Covid restrictions were eased, with 318 Indians seeking asylum in three months.
