-
GOP candidate Donald Trump has spotlighted immigration as a central issue in his campaign, recently criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on border security during a Texas rally
-
Trump claimed, without evidence, that Harris’s policies have turned Texas into a “staging ground” for illegal immigration, reiterating his opposition to the current administration’s approach
In a significant move before the November 5 US elections, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ramped up its immigration enforcement efforts, hindustantimes.com reported.
Between June 2024 and October, DHS repatriated over 160,000 individuals, including Indian nationals, who lacked the legal documentation to remain in the United States. This extensive operation included 495 foreign repatriation flights, reflecting the US government’s dedication to curb unauthorized immigration through international collaboration.
The DHS, in partnership with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), organized a large-scale charter removal flight on October 22 specifically for Indian nationals without a lawful basis to stay. DHS emphasized its ongoing cooperation with the Indian government and other nations to reduce irregular migration and deter human smuggling. “Indian nationals who lack a legal right to reside in the US are subject to immediate removal,” stated DHS official Kristie A. Canegallo, warning migrants against smugglers’ false promises.
In the past two years, nearly 186,000 Indians have attempted unauthorized entry, underscoring a notable increase in irregular migration from the region
Under the Biden administration’s immigration policy, the DHS has increased enforcement, noting that unlawful immigration attempts have declined by 55% since the June 2024 “Securing the Border” Presidential Proclamation. This policy reinforces the DHS’s commitment to legal migration routes and ensures penalties for those who violate immigration laws.
The trend of Indians attempting to cross the US borders has surged in recent years. In FY2023, US authorities recorded 96,917 Indian nationals seeking entry without authorization—the highest number since 2021.
While some crossed from Mexico into the southern United States, others attempted entry from Canada or overstayed visas after arriving at US airports.
***********************************************************
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