A US military plane carrying 205 Indians who tried to enter America illegally is landing in India. This is embarrassing. The Indian government needs to stop people who trick others into leaving the country illegally.

The US is planning to send back many more people. There are about 725,000 Indians living there without permission, and 18,000 are already on the list to be deported. It’s not just about the military plane—it’s about why so many Indians feel they have to leave India to find a better life. Many others have also gone to Canada, Europe, and even dangerous places like the Russia-Ukraine war zone for work.

This isn’t the first time the US has sent Indians back. In October, 100 Indians were flown home. In total, 1,100 people were deported between October 2023 and September 2024. But now, with Donald Trump back as US president, there is more focus on illegal immigrants. This affects the 5 million legal Indian immigrants in the US, who are among the most successful groups there. Their average family income in 2022 was $145,000, much higher than Hispanic families, who earned around $65,540. This means when people from countries like Guatemala or India are sent back, it damages India’s reputation.

That’s why India must act now. Every year, over 90,000 Indians are caught trying to enter the US illegally. In 2022-23, the number jumped to 96,917. Some of these journeys end in tragedy, like the Gujarati family that froze to death on the US-Canada border in 2022. With stricter US rules, most will just face disappointment.

The Indian government must stop illegal immigration gangs and create better job opportunities here. If people can build good lives in India, they won’t feel the need to take dangerous risks abroad.

Linkedin
Disclaimer

Views expressed above are the author's own.

END OF ARTICLE
Opinions