The states of Punjab and Haryana dominates the list of the deportees from the United States in the past couple of years with the United States has deported 332 undocumented Indian immigrants in 2025, with 38 percent hailing from Punjab, followed by Haryana (33%), and Gujarat (22%).
A study by Johns Hopkins University highlights the increasing trend of illegal migration from India, particularly from these states, driven by economic aspirations and facilitated by fraudulent travel agents.
The recently released study reveals that between 2001 and 2022, nearly 66% of Indian asylum seekers in the US were Punjabi speakers. As per the data of the report obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) shows that Punjabi speakers have consistently been the largest group of Indian immigrants seeking asylum.
“Data collected through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) indicate that Punjabi speakers have consistently represented the largest group among Indian immigrants involved in asylum claims since 2001. Between 2001 and 2022, two thirds (66%) of asylum cases involving Indian nationals were filed by Punjabi speakers.
This strongly suggests that individuals from Punjab and Haryana are the primary group of Indian migrants encountered at the US Border and filing asylum requests, reads the report. It added that following Punjabi, the other common languages spoken by Indian asylum requesters were Hindi 14%, English 8%, and Gujarati 7% during that same time period. TRAC data also indicates a significant increase in the number of Hindi speakers in recent years, rising from just 6% of all Indian cases in FY 2017 to nearly 30% in 2022
The data revealed that the number of Indians attempting to enter the US illegally has surged drastically. In 2013, fewer than 1,500 Indians were stopped at the U.S. border. This figure skyrocketed to 96,917 in 2023 and remained high at 90,415 in 2024. Since 2009, the U.S. has deported 15,897 undocumented Indians, with the highest numbers recorded in 2019 (2,042), 2020 (1,889), and 2024 (1,368).
The study also reveals that among Indian asylum seekers, Punjabi speakers had the highest approval rates in US immigration courts (63%), followed by Hindi speakers (58%). In contrast, only 25% of asylum cases involving Gujarati speakers were approved. The number of Hindi-speaking asylum seekers has also risen sharply, from 6% in 2017 to nearly 30% in 2022.
The study also highlights that economic migrants, rather than those facing persecution, make up the majority of asylum seekers. Most come from wealthier states such as Punjab and Gujarat, where high land values enable families to fund expensive illegal migration routes through Latin America and Canada.
According to the study, over 3,042 illegal travel agents were identified by June 2024, primarily in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. In the last four years, 4,361 complaints have been filed against such agents. These agents, also known as “Dunkers,” mislead desperate individuals into paying exorbitant amounts for unsafe migration routes. As per the information most of the Indian migrants are lured by fake travel agents who promise high-paying jobs abroad in exchange for hefty fees, ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1.25 crore.
Meanwhile, the Congress leader and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja has criticized the Haryana government for failing to curb illegal migration and protect youth from fraudulent travel agents. She pointed out that despite establishing the Foreign Cooperation Department in 2019, the state has done little to address the issue. Selja demanded a thorough investigation into the number of youth who have traveled abroad illegally and urged the government to ensure their safe return and rehabilitation.
