2,382 Indians Jailed in US For Illegally Crossing Border: Report

The detainees are seeking asylum in US on the grounds that they “experienced violence or persecution” in India.

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(Photo: iStockphoto)

Nearly 2,400 Indians are languishing in various American jails for illegally crossing the US border to seek asylum in the country, according to the latest figures.

These detainees, a significant number of whom are from Punjab, are seeking asylum, claiming that they "experienced violence or persecution" in India.

2,382 Indians Lodged in 86 US Jails

As many as 2,382 Indians are lodged in 86 jails in the US, according to the information obtained by North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) through the Freedom of Information Act.

According to figures as of 10 October, a total of 377 Indian nationals are detained in California's Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center, 269 at the Imperial Regional Adult Detention Facility, 245 at the Federal Correctional Institution Victorville, and 115 at Washington State's Tacoma ICE Processing Center.

Most of the detainees at the federal facilities are asking for asylum on the grounds that they ‘experienced violence or persecution’ in their home country.

Satnam S Chahal, NAPA President, as told to PTI

NAPA President Satnam S Chahal, who has been working in the field for several years, alleged that there is a nexus of human traffickers and officials in Punjab who encourage young people from the state to leave their homes for the US and charge Rs 35-50 lakhs from each individual.

"Failure to reach their promised destination leads to deportation, exploitation, indebtedness, imprisonment and even death," Chahal said.

NAPA has urged the Punjab government to strictly enforce human anti-trafficking laws that have been passed by the State Assembly in recent years.

The Trump administration, too, has introduced a slew of policies in line with its stand on immigration.

Last week, the administration decided to restrict the entry of illegal migrants who cross the southern border with Mexico to seek asylum in the US.