The study further suggests that asylum approvals may decline under the Trump administration
-
Within hours of Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the CBP One app, which facilitated asylum appointments, was discontinued, affecting nearly 300,000 pending requests
-
With stricter immigration policies anticipated, the fate of many asylum seekers remains uncertain
A recent study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University has revealed a staggering 466% increase in Indian asylum seekers in the United States over the past five years, indiatoday.in reported.
The number surged from 9,000 in 2018 to 51,000 in 2023, reflecting a sharp rise in attempts at legal entry through asylum claims.
This surge aligns with the broader trend of rising border apprehensions, as US immigration laws allow individuals detained at the border to apply for asylum if they claim persecution in their home country.
According to researchers Abby Budiman and Devesh Kapur, those who clear the initial screening can present their case in immigration court, leading to a corresponding rise in asylum applications
Despite the sharp increase in asylum claims, US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data suggests a decline in the number of undocumented Indian immigrants. As per the latest estimates from 2022, the population of unauthorized Indians in the US has dropped by 60% since its peak in 2016, from 560,000 to 220,000. The study notes that about 7% of the Indian foreign-born population in the US remained undocumented that year.
The release of this study on February 10 coincided with recent deportations of Indian nationals from the US. On February 5, a US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal immigrants landed in Amritsar, India. Images of deportees in handcuffs sparked political controversy, with opposition leaders in India voicing concerns over the treatment of deported individuals. Additionally, US authorities have identified another group of 487 undocumented Indians scheduled for deportation.
The Johns Hopkins study utilized data from multiple American agencies, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The study also highlighted that the rising trend in asylum applications is not limited to the US. Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia have also seen an increase in Indian asylum seekers since 2021, following a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Canada emerged as the second-most preferred destination for Indian asylum seekers, with 11,500 applications filed.
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com