Growing Trend of Strategic Abandonment at US Borders
A new trend is appearing at the US borders: Indian parents are reportedly leaving their children, mostly aged 12 to 17, to seek asylum on humanitarian grounds. This approach has resulted in over 1,650 unaccompanied Indian minors being caught since 2020, mainly at the US-Mexico border.
Why is This Happening?
Here's the strategy: Parents enter the US illegally and arrange for their children to follow with unrelated migrants. When apprehended, they apply for asylum—a move that often works. This method has become a way to secure green cards and permanent residence. But is it really that straightforward? Not quite.
Response from Trump's Administration
The Trump administration is increasing its focus on unaccompanied minors as part of its immigration policies. They've reduced legal aid and increased surveillance—though claims about "sharing sensitive personal information with ICE" should be verified for accuracy. The goal? To deter this trend, though concerns about deportations and family separations remain significant issues.