OTTAWA, Canada (Diya TV) — Indian nationals are being caught increasingly at the US-Canada border trying to illegally cross, with over 14,000 arrests made last year. The rash of illegal crossings has worried some people that these migration routes are hazardous and would undermine the policies on immigration by the two countries.
Most of these migrants hail from Punjab and Gujarat, where challenging economics are driving people to seek better prospects abroad. The promise of a bright future in the U.S. or Canada has led many to risk their lives and savings, paying hefty sums—up to $100,000 in some cases—to human smugglers in exchange for passage across borders.
The desperation of these migrants has created a dangerous pattern of illegal immigration. For many, the journey to North America begins with the sale of personal assets like land or the taking of loans to fund risky ventures.
The journey itself is risky. Migrants face some of the toughest and dangerous conditions, including crossing icy regions of Manitoba, Canada. In January 2022, the tragic deaths of a family of four, with two young children, really showed the grave risks involved. The family, who came from Gujarat, froze to death just meters from safety as they tried to cross the U.S.-Canada border in extreme winter conditions.
Such tragedies are not isolated, however. Migrants face life-threatening situations such as harsh weather exposure, food shortages, and long treks without adequate supplies. All these have brought attention to the need for more effective immigration policies to ensure safety and well-being of those attempting to enter North America.
The situation could even get worse with the comeback of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency. A hardliner on immigration issues, Trump has promised to strengthen the enforcement of the U.S. immigration policy and increase arrests and deportations. His administration’s commitment to removing millions of undocumented immigrants from the U.S. raises concerns about what the future holds for those who are already in the country or want to get into the country through illegal means.
According to experts, the migrants might be deported or caught in a dangerous situation as more stringent measures of enforcement will be put into practice. The U.S. government claims that such policies will deter illegal immigration; however, many believe that desperate people will still take risks to their lives to attain a better life.
As policymakers in both the U.S. and Canada grapple with the complexities of immigration, the question remains: should there be reforms to make legal migration easier, or will stricter policies exacerbate the already dire situation? Only time will tell.
