Trump's immigration crackdown puts over 20,000 undocumented Indians at risk
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping immigration crackdown, emphasizing the southern border with Mexico and criminal cartels. However, this policy shift has also raised concerns in New Delhi, particularly for the 20,407 undocumented Indians facing uncertain futures in the United States.
As of November 2024, these individuals fall into two categories: 17,940 are under final removal orders but not detained, while 2,467 remain in detention under the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Indians now constitute the fourth-largest national group in ICE custody and the largest among Asians. Overall, ICE currently detains more than 37,000 non-citizens from various countries.
A final removal order, issued by an immigration judge, becomes binding once affirmed by an appellate authority. ICE has identified India as one of 15 "uncooperative" nations, citing reluctance to accept deported nationals. This designation includes delays in removal proceedings, refusal to conduct consular interviews, and resistance to accepting deportees via charter flights.
Non-citizens can appeal removal orders to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Even when a final order is upheld, deportations may not occur due to protective provisions under the Convention Against Torture or established risks of persecution in their home countries.
The deportation of Indians from the US has surged dramatically, rising from 292 in 2021 to 1,529 in 2024, according to ICE's annual report. However, data discrepancies remain. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the Lok Sabha that 519 Indians were deported between November 2023 and October 2024. In contrast, the Department of Homeland Security reported 1,100 deportations during the same period, including voluntary departures and withdrawals.
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UP: 53-year-old lifer dies in Etah jail; probe on
Etah (UP) (PTI): A 53-year-old inmate lodged in the Etah district jail died on Saturday while undergoing treatment for chest pain, a jail official said.
According to the Jail Superintendent, Ankeshita Srivastava, Jitendra alias Bhura, a resident of Bijauri village in Kotwali Dehat area of the district, complained of severe left chest pain and high blood pressure on Saturday morning.
When his condition worsened, at around 10.35 am, he was admitted to Etah's Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi Autonomous State Medical College (VALASMC), where he was declared dead at around 10.45 am, she said.
The deceased inmate was lodged in the district jail on April 7, last year, and was serving a life sentence in a case of murder. In addition, two other cases were pending against him, the Jail Superintendent said.
His family has been informed about the incident, she added.
Police have sent the body for a post-mortem, and an investigation is underway, the officer said.
Further action will be taken upon the receipt of the report, she added.
