AHMEDABAD: One Indian was caught at the US border every 20 minutes in 2025, a stark measure of how the American dream continues to pull immigrants through illegal and increasingly dangerous routes despite an aggressive crackdown.US Customs and Border Protection caught 23,830 Indians in 2025, far below the staggering 85,119 caught in 2024, yet enough to keep India among the top source countries. Most of them were single adults but agencies flagged a darker trend: a small flow of unaccompanied kids. Four years after the Jan 2022 Dingucha tragedy, when four of a Gandhinagar family froze to death while crossing from Canada to the US, kids continue to be abandoned near borders. For many, American dream trumps risksThe 2025 figures underscore a central paradox: enforcement has reduced numbers, but not the urge to try. For thousands, the promise of USA still outweighs walls, patrols and peril.

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US border officials link the drop to stepped-up surveillance, policy shifts under President Donald Trump and a sweeping enforcement drive by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Smuggling corridors have narrowed, patrols intensified and penalties sharpened. Still, attempts continue.“Data shows deterrence, not elimination,” said experts tracking migration flows. They point to the enduring economic and social pull of US, paired with smuggling networks that quickly rewire routes when pressure mounts.Indian agencies monitoring illegal immigration, particularly from Gujarat, echo that assessment. “There is a huge decrease due to stricter US policies and a massive crackdown by agencies, including ICE,” said a senior officer, adding, “But the numbers are still there because the aspiration of settling in US, especially among Gujaratis, continues.”

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Mexico remains a key pathway, but 2025 marked a visible shift north. More Indians were intercepted along the Canada-US border, reflecting how smugglers are abandoning the heavily policed Latin American corridors for riskier alternatives.“Routes via Mexico and Canada through hubs like Dubai and Istanbul were the main illegal channels. These routes are now heavily hampered,” the officer said. “People who want to illegally enter US are still trying through newer, riskier paths.”