Illegal immigration from India to the United States has declined sharply over the past three years, according to the latest data from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Through May of fiscal year (FY) 2026, US authorities recorded 20,614 encounters with Indian migrants nationwide, marking a nearly 69 per cent drop from the same period in FY2023, when encounters had crossed 67,000, per a report by Hindustan Times.
The figures indicate a significant slowdown in irregular migration, with the steepest declines reported at both the US-Mexico and US-Canada land borders.
The men and women of ICE are doing a GREAT job, one that has to be done. CRIME IS WAY DOWN IN AMERICA, in many cases with numbers that haven’t been seen in decades. The Open Border Policy of Sleepy Joe Biden allowed 25,000,000 people to pour into our Country, unchecked and… pic.twitter.com/im7J8Q60wd
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) July 15, 2026
Sharp fall at both land borders
The CBP follows the US fiscal year from October to September. Between October 2025 and May 2026, authorities recorded 20,614 encounters involving Indian migrants, down from nearly 29,000 during the same period in FY2025.
Also Read | India’s largest nuclear plant linked to massive data leak; Reliance admits ‘partial breach’
Per an HT report, the biggest decline came at the southwestern border with Mexico. Through May this year, officials recorded only 417 encounters, a fall of almost 99 per cent compared to the more than 30,000 reported during the corresponding period in FY2023.
The report mentioned northern border with Canada also witnessing a sharp decline. Authorities recorded 2,250 encounters, down 91 per cent from the comparable period in FY2024.
Tougher immigration policies seen as a key factor
The decline has been linked to stricter immigration measures introduced by the Donald Trump administration, particularly its stance on asylum claims at US borders.
Explaining the trend, Gilbert Guerra of the Niskanen Center told HT, “I think what we’ve seen is that making it so that people do not think that they actually have a chance of a good outcome if they come here through these channels does have an impact because these trips are expensive.
They are not ones that people can try again and again the way that they could if they were from, say, Guatemala, and could just very easily try if they fail first. It’s a lot of money to invest to put forth towards an outcome.”
Canada remains a preferred transit route
Although crossings through Canada have also fallen, they remain higher than those along the Mexican border. According to Guerra, Canada’s large Indian diaspora continues to make it a more attractive transit point for migrants.
Also Read | Puri tightens safety net ahead of Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026
Even with the overall decline, he expects irregular migration from India to remain higher than that from countries such as Russia and China.
FAQs:
How much has illegal immigration from India to the US declined?
CBP data shows a nearly 69% decline from the FY2023 peak through May FY2026.
Why has illegal immigration from India to the US fallen?
The decline has been linked to tougher US immigration policies and reduced expectations of securing asylum at the border.
