Arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico plummeted 39 per cent in January from a month earlier, authorities said on Tuesday, an early gauge of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. File photo
| Photo Credit: JORGE DUENES

Arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico plummeted 39 per cent in January from a month earlier, authorities said on Tuesday, an early gauge of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The Border Patrol made 21,593 arrests during the month, down from 47,316 in December and the lowest mark since May 2020 near the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic, according to US Customs and Border Protection.

“Call it the Trump effect,” the White House said in a statement.

Border arrests fell sharply well before Trump took office from an all-time high of 2,50,000 in December 2023. Mexican authorities increased enforcement within their own borders and then-president Joe Biden introduced severe asylum restrictions in June.

Arrests sank even further after Trump was sworn in on January 20 and issued a slew of orders on immigration, including one to suspend asylum on grounds that the US is under “invasion” at the southern border.

Border czar Tom Homan said on Monday that there were 229 border arrests in a 24-hour period, the lowest he remembered since becoming a Border Patrol agent in 1984. Homeland Security Department officials say they want to drive that to zero.

Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks said on Friday in Edinburg, Texas, that he will “not be satisfied that our border is secure until we have operational control of our border, which means anyone that crosses illegally is apprehended or no one crosses”.

Homeland Security said on Tuesday that it launched a multimillion-dollar video ad campaign in the US and internationally that features Secretary Kristi Noem warning people to leave or not to come. “If you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. You will never return,” she said in the video. (AP) SZM

According to US Border Patrol data, over 14,000 Indians were arrested on the Canadian border in the year ending September 30, 2022, a staggering increase from previous years. An incident in 2022 underscores the need for effective immigration policies and increased awareness about the risks associated with illegal border crossings.

On a bitterly cold January night in 2022, Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their two young children embarked on a perilous journey to cross the US-Canada border, seeking a better life.

Their dreams, however, were cruelly cut short. The family of four succumbed to the freezing temperatures, their bodies found in a snowy field, a heartbreaking testament to the human cost of illegal immigration.

As per a report on AP, the Patels’ story began in Dingucha, a small village in western India’s Gujarat state. Like many others, they were lured by the promise of a brighter future in the West. The village, once thriving, now has blocks of vacant homes, as many residents have left in search of greener pastures. The Patel family, comprising schoolteachers Jagdish and Vaishaliben, and their children, Vihangi (11) and Dharmik (3), were driven by the desire for economic prosperity.

Their journey was facilitated by Harshkumar Patel, an experienced smuggler nicknamed “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, a driver recruited by Patel. The two men, accused of being part of a sophisticated human smuggling operation, are set to stand trial on charges related to human smuggling.

On the fateful night, the Patels, along with seven other Indian migrants, attempted to cross the border on foot, braving temperatures as low as -36°F (-38°C). The group, poorly equipped for the harsh conditions, became separated in the darkness. While seven survivors were eventually rescued, the Patel family perished, their bodies discovered the next morning.

The incident highlights the growing issue of illegal immigration from India, driven by economic aspirations and facilitated by smuggling networks.

Experts point to a combination of factors contributing to this trend, including political repression, a dysfunctional US immigration system, and economic inequality.

Satveer Chaudhary, a Minneapolis-based immigration attorney, notes that smugglers often target vulnerable individuals, charging exorbitant fees and exploiting their desperation.

As the trial of Patel and Shand begins, the focus shifts to the human cost of illegal immigration. The Patel family’s tragic fate serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers and uncertainties faced by those seeking a better life.

Hemant Shah, an Indian-born businessman who organized a virtual prayer service for the Patels, lamented the greed that drove the smuggling operation, stating, “There was no humanity.”

Donald Trump is poised to make a significant impact on immigration policies from day one of his presidency, with plans to unleash a flurry of executive actions aimed at bolstering immigration enforcement and dismantling key Biden-era legal entry programs. This sweeping effort will be spearheaded by Tom Homan, Trump’s newly appointed “border czar,” alongside other prominent Republican immigration hardliners.

As the global community grapples with the complexities of migration, the memory of the Patel family serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences of desperation and exploitation.
 

Illegal immigration from Canada to the United States has seen a sharp rise among people of Indian origin, US border patrol data shows.

While the pipeline of illegal immigration from India has existed for a long time, it has increased significantly in the last few years, reports American news agency Associated Press.

According to the US border patrol data cited in the report, more than 14,000 Indians have been arrested along the US-Canada border in the year ending September 30 – a staggering 10-fold rise in just two years. The arrests of persons of Indian origin amounted to 60 per cent of all arrests along the US-Canada border.

According to data revealed by the Pew Research Center, it is estimated that by 2022, there were already more than 725,000 Indians living illegally in the US –  behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans.

While greater research and analysis is required to understand why there is such a surge in illegal immigration from Canada to the US, it is understood that a combination of factors contribute to this, including political repression, a rise in Khalistan extremism in Canada which target Indians, a dysfunctional US immigration system, extremely long waits for visas and permits under the existing legal immigration system, and economic inequality.

But there is also a human rights angle – An incident in 2022 underscores the urgent need for effective immigration policies and increased awareness about the risks associated with illegal border crossings.

On a bitterly cold January night in 2022, Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their two young children embarked on a perilous journey to cross the US-Canada border, seeking a better life.

Their dreams, however, were cruelly cut short. The family of four succumbed to the freezing temperatures, their bodies found in a snowy field, a heartbreaking testament to the human cost of illegal immigration.

The Patels’ story began in Dingucha, a small village in western India’s Gujarat state. Like many others, they were lured by the promise of a brighter future in the West. The village, once thriving, now has blocks of vacant homes, as many residents have left in search of greener pastures. The Patel family, comprising schoolteachers Jagdish and Vaishaliben, and their children, Vihangi (11) and Dharmik (3), were driven by the desire for economic prosperity.

Their journey was facilitated by Harshkumar Patel, an experienced smuggler nicknamed “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, a driver recruited by Patel. The two men, accused of being part of a sophisticated human smuggling operation, are set to stand trial on charges related to human smuggling.

On the fateful night, the Patels, along with seven other Indian migrants, attempted to cross the border on foot, braving temperatures as low as -36 degrees F (-38 degrees Celsius). The group, poorly equipped for the harsh conditions, became separated in the darkness. While seven survivors were eventually rescued, the Patel family perished, their bodies discovered the next morning.

The incident highlights the growing issue of illegal immigration from India, driven by economic aspirations and facilitated by smuggling networks.

Satveer Chaudhary, a Minneapolis-based immigration attorney, notes that smugglers often target vulnerable individuals, charging exorbitant fees and exploiting their desperation.

As the trial of Patel and Shand begins, the focus shifts to the human cost of illegal immigration. The Patel family’s tragic fate serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers and uncertainties faced by those seeking a better life.

Hemant Shah, an Indian-born businessman who organized a virtual prayer service for the Patels, lamented the greed that drove the smuggling operation, stating, “There was no humanity.”

Donald Trump is poised to make a significant impact on immigration policies from day one of his presidency, with plans to unleash a flurry of executive actions aimed at bolstering immigration enforcement and dismantling key Biden-era legal entry programs. This sweeping effort will be spearheaded by Tom Homan, Trump’s newly appointed “border czar,” alongside other prominent Republican immigration hardliners.

As the global community grapples with the complexities of migration, the memory of the Patel family serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences of desperation and exploitation.
 

New Delhi:

India, being a developing nation with the highest population globally, should prioritise its own citizens, the Centre told the Supreme Court today while underscoring concerns regarding national security due to the illegal entry and stay of Rohingya refugees. This declaration came in response to a court petition urging the release of Rohingya refugees detained for alleged violations of the Foreigners Act. 

The Rohingya crisis is a humanitarian catastrophe that has drawn international attention due to its magnitude and complexity. Originating from Myanmar, the Rohingya people have faced decades of persecution and violence, leading to a mass exodus from their homeland.

The Rohingya, primarily Muslims, have fled ethnic conflict in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, seeking refuge in India, Bangladesh, and neighbouring countries.

Who Are The Rohingya?

The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority group residing in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar. According to the United Nations, despite living in the country for generations, they have been systematically denied citizenship since 1982, rendering them stateless and without basic rights. The term “Rohingya” emerged in the 1950s as a means for the community to assert its collective identity and historical ties to the region.

Roots Of The Crisis

Decades of discrimination and marginalisation against the Rohingya by the Myanmar government have laid the groundwork for the crisis, the UN’s Human Rights Council said in a report. Restrictive citizenship laws, imposed limitations on marriage, family planning, education, and freedom of movement have compounded the community’s suffering.

Rakhine State, where most Rohingya reside, is Myanmar’s least developed region, and a constant flashpoint in tensions between the Rohingya and other ethnic groups. The state’s capital Sittwe is located nearly 650 kilometres from Myanmar’s capital Napyidaw. 

Escalation Of Violence

The crisis escalated dramatically in August 2017 when the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a Rohingya insurgent group, launched attacks on Myanmar police and army posts in Rakhine State. In response, Myanmar’s military launched a brutal crackdown, characterised by widespread violence, mass killings, and the torching of Rohingya villages. Hundreds of thousands fled across the border into neighbouring Bangladesh to escape the atrocities.

The international community has condemned Myanmar’s actions, with many labelling it as ethnic cleansing and even genocide. The United Nations, human rights organisations, and individual countries have called for accountability and justice for the Rohingya. Legal actions have been pursued at international courts, including cases at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). Sanctions have been imposed on Myanmar’s military leaders by various nations and organisations.

Refugee Crisis

The majority of Rohingya refugees have sought shelter in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh. The living conditions in these camps are dire, often made worse by the annual monsoon season, which brings flooding and landslides. Disease outbreaks and lack of access to basic necessities pose significant challenges to the well-being of Rohingya refugees.

The Kutupalong camp In Cox’s Bazaar is widely regarded as the world’s largest refugee camp, even bigger than the Um Rakuba camp in Sudan and the Za’atari camp in Jordan.

Regional Dynamics And India’s Stance

The Rohingya crisis has regional implications, with refugees seeking asylum in neighbouring countries such as India, Malaysia and Thailand. 

According to a 2019 report by the US think tank Council On Foreign Relations, approximately 18,000 Rohingya refugees have officially registered with the UN refugee agency, but Indian authorities estimate that the total Rohingya population in the country stands at around 40,000. The Indian government has been actively pursuing their repatriation. Since late 2018, India has reportedly deported numerous refugees back to Myanmar.

Now, the Rohingya have also been cited in debates regarding the Centre’s handling of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The CAA aims to grant citizenship to migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, excluding Muslims, who fled religious persecution and entered India before 2015. Responding to criticism from the Opposition regarding national security concerns related to the CAA, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has countered by questioning why there is no opposition to the entry of Rohingya refugees.

The Centre has said that India has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. Therefore, determining whether any group should be recognised as refugees is solely a matter of policy.