It has been revealed that a record-breaking number of Asian Indian and Chinese immigrants are entering the United States through its southern border, according to the Daily Mail. Over the past year, approximately 42,000 Indian immigrants were intercepted, more than double the previous year’s figure.
This record-breaking trend has led to an unprecedented number of migrant encounters, surpassing 2.48 million in the fiscal year starting in October. In addition, an extra 1,600 Indians have crossed through the northern border in the last three years, four times the amount recorded before. These migrants typically turn themselves into the Border Patrol, seeking asylum due to ongoing unrest related to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Since 2007, the annual number of illegal border crossings from India had only exceeded 5,000 on four occasions. This substantial increase can be attributed to various political and socioeconomic factors. Notably, Indian immigrants represent nearly 2 percent of the total encounters recorded by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the past year, which exceeded 2 million in total.
Recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics also reveal a significant increase in unauthorized migration from China from 2020 to 2023. Chinese migrants saw a sharp rise nationwide and at the Southwest land border between 2022 and 2023.
Newsweek reports CBP estimates 45,000 Chinese nationals crossed the border. That’s up from 28,000 last year. Undocumented migration from China has been rising steadily since 2020.
“I think what we’re seeing now are people who are more middle class who just feel that the opportunities are diminishing and that the political situation has just become a lot riskier,” said Ian Johnson, a senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations to NBC. “And so they are finding any method by hook or by crook to get out of China.”
In contrast, unauthorized migrants from the Philippines remained at a consistent and substantial level over the four-year period, with very few arriving through the Southwest border. Migrants from Myanmar had smaller numbers, and their flow remained steady. The majority of these Asian migrants were single adults.
Notably, there has been a significant surge in crossings of the Darien Gap, a hazardous stretch of jungle that spans the Colombia-Panama border. This area has become increasingly traversed by migrants. The dangerous journey through the Darien Gap, plagued by predators, snakes, and harsh environmental conditions, highlights the desperation of those seeking a new life in the United States.
However, the U.S. faces challenges in addressing this crisis as the border remains a major political issue. The Biden administration has proposed allocating $14 billion for border security in a $106 billion spending package. Additionally, the administration is emphasizing the need for help from Congress to find long-term solutions.
This surge in immigration is indicative of a broader humanitarian crisis at the U.S. southern border, which continues to be a complex and politically sensitive issue with far-reaching consequences for the nation.
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