Attempted border crossing illegal immigrants The number of Indian nationals at the US border with Canada has increased dramatically in recent years.
Nearly 44,000 Indian nationals attempted to cross the US-Canadian border illegally in fiscal 2024, up from about 30,000 in fiscal 2023 and 17,331 in fiscal 2022, according to the latest figures from the US Customs and Border Protection data portal.
Indian nationals were the most common nationality at the northern border among nationalities tracked last fiscal year, representing approximately 22% of the 198,929 total land border contacts at the U.S.-Canada border in fiscal year 2024.
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Newly elected President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Getty Images)
The latest figures come as President-elect Trump is preparing for his second term in office, with renewed promises that border security will be one of the former president’s favorite selling points during his campaign.
met Trump Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Friday, with Trump saying the two leaders had a “very productive” conversation, including discussions on border security.
“We discussed many important issues that both countries must work together to address, such as the fentanyl and drug crisis that has decimated so many lives due to illegal immigration, fair trade deals that do not endanger America’s workers, and the massive trade deficit. the US has that with Canada,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday.
“I have made it very clear that the United States will no longer stand idly by while our citizens fall victim to the scourge of this drug epidemic, caused primarily by the drug cartels and the fentanyl flowing in from China. Too much death and hardship!”
People cross the US-Canadian border in Blaine, Washington, August 9, 2021. (Reuters/David Ryder)
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The Canadian government has already taken steps to strengthen its policies border policy amid tense relations with the US, according to a September Financial Times report, starting with the rollback of the permissive worker visa program.
“US lawmakers are calling for hardening of the northern border with Canada over fears of illegal migration from Canada,” Glenn Cowan, the founder and CEO of security firm One9, told the Financial Times. “Restraining the flow of these visas will strengthen U.S. relations.”
That work could become more important as the Canadian government prepares to work again with Trump, who has threatened in the past to impose tariffs on both Canada and Mexico.
A Canadian Customs and Fisheries officer watches over the U.S.-Canada border between Blaine, Washington, and White Rock, British Columbia. (Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images/File)
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Trump did not say Saturday whether such tariffs were still on the table following his talks with Trudeau, although he made clear the two leaders also discussed energy, trade and Arctic relations.
“These are all critical issues that I will address in my first days back in office, and before that,” Trump said.
