/wion/media/agency_attachments/2024/12/26/2024-12-26t112006978z-wion-white-logo-for-website-2-1.png){kind=logo}
/wion/media/agency_attachments/2024/12/13/2024-12-13t071548098z-wionlogo.webp)
/wion/media/member_avatars/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2023/10/16/386795-mukulshotauthorpage.jpg)
/wion/media/member_avatars/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2023/10/16/386795-mukulshotauthorpage.jpg)
/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/09/02/452552-canadaborderrr.png)
New Delhi
An all-time high number of undocumented Indians are crossing over from Canada to the United States, The Indian Express reported. The report added that the unusual spike has placed Canada's visa screening process under the lens. This is further complicated by the concerns over Canada-bound Indian passengers seeking asylum in the United Kingdom while in transit.
Undocumented Indians' bid to enter the US: What is the situation?
According to the latest US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, an all-time high of 5,152 undocumented Indians entered the US from Canada on foot this June alone.
Also read | Indians protest against changes in Canada's immigration policy
The monthly number of Indians entering the US from Canada has surpassed those crossing over from the Mexico route since December 2023.
At about 9,000 km in length, the US-Canada border is the longest open border in the world. The number of undocumented Indians using this route has surpassed the number of such entries from the more conventional path of using the Mexico border route.
Also watch | Gravitas: Controversial U.S. Immigration policy Title 42 ends
The Indian Express report cited that data to point out that the number of Indians caught at the US-Canada border between January and June 2024 has increased by 47 per cent — there were 3,733 incidents — compared to 2,548 last year for the same period.
The rise in unauthorised Indian migration has made Indians the third-largest group of undocumented immigrants in the US.
According to a Pew Research report, there were about 725,000 undocumented Indian nationals in the United States in 2021.
Why Canada?
An immigration consultant registered with the Canada Regulatory Council told Indian Express, "Canada offers the ideal combination of an accessible visa and a soft border. It’s a much safer option than taking one of those ‘dunki’ (illegal) routes via West Asia, Africa or the Caribbean, to join the crowd waiting to cross the heavily guarded Mexico border."
(With inputs from agencies)