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South Asian Migrant Caravans Crossing the US-Mexico Border
Moving to the West for a better life is a common narrative in the South Asian community. In recent years, this dream has become more accessible for prospective immigrants in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar. With Western universities having seen the economic potential of accepting more international students, and business owners recognizing the value of cheap, skilled labor, there has been an influx of South Asian immigrants in Canada and the US. However, for many, acquiring a visa and coming to the West via traditional routes is impossible. The conditions for legal immigration are often rigorous and require education, work experience, and knowledge of the legal system, not to mention the time, paperwork, and expenses associated with the process. As a result, illegal immigration has become the alternative for those who seek to come to the West by any means necessary. An entire industry is bred around this desperation and takes migrants on journeys reminiscent of medieval voyages, spanning multiple continents, landscapes, and cultures. The people who dare to embark on such a course are met with incredibly dangerous conditions at every turn but still deem it worthwhile for a shot at a new life.
Undocumented migrants from South Asia are not a new phenomenon. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Sikhs who could not live on their pensions from the imperial army sought labor jobs building railroads and working in lumber mills across North America. While their presence in the Americas was allowed, white American local groups saw this growing community as a threat. They pressured Congress into signing the Immigration Act of 1917, which aimed to restrict immigration by imposing literacy tests, creating new categories of inadmissible persons, and barring immigration from the Asia-Pacific zone. In response, the Sikh community in California assisted South Asian migrants in crossing into the US without papers through the Mexican border. California’s Ghadar Party would facilitate these crossings for a fee and use the funds to campaign for Indian independence.
The 21st century brought Desi immigration to new heights. Most immigrants from South Asia now come to North America on work visas or for higher education. Still, the routes charted by illegal migrants remain active. Migrants fleeing political persecution and economic challenges create the demand for a new rush of “ghost” immigration agencies that facilitate the journeys abroad. Mohit Chandla, a registered immigration consultant from Canada, broke the entire process down. “[The migrants] want to reach the United States in order to have a better future for themselves and their children. [If they] do not have enough money, or do not have enough education, or [re]sources by the means of which they can legally enter the United States, they are lured by those “ghost consultants” who…tell them they can help them reach the United States by illegal means. And they will charge them a hefty amount of money in exchange.” These “ghost agencies” are run by former migrants who rely on social media and WhatsApp to promote their services. TikTok and Instagram videos boasting the success rate of migrant crossings have become a common advertising tool. Later in the interview, Chandla revealed the agencies typically charge anywhere from 35-45 lakh rupees (42000-54000 USD) per family for the journey.