In the bustling village spaces of Gujarat, western India, migration is more than just a word; it’s a way of life, a rite of passage, and a dream that fuels many families’ sacrifices. Imagine the hopes of one family, standing outside an intricately carved temple, holding a simple offering of dried milk and clarified butter. Their son had just crossed into the United States, on the cusp of Donald Trump’s presidency and its promise of hardline immigration policies. Their prayers were not just for success but for survival in a shifting political world where the very act of migration was under more scrutiny than ever before.
In Gujarat, the ancestral home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, migration is woven deeply into the societal fabric. Buildings bear plaques boasting donations from Gujaratis "in America," while locked, empty houses tell the stories of those who pursued the allure of the American Dream, either legally or otherwise. Yet, the global tremors set off by Mr. Trump’s "America First" agenda have sent ripples not just through Latin America but also through places like India, one of the top sources of illegal immigration to the United States.
India’s Immigrants: A Growing Presence
The statistics tell a striking tale: More than 700,000 undocumented Indians were estimated to be in the United States in 2022, making them the third-largest group of illegal immigrants, after Mexicans and Hondurans, according to the Pew Research Center. These numbers are fueled by both overstayed visas and perilous border crossings. In 2023 alone, about 90,000 Indians were arrested attempting to enter the U.S. illegally—an astounding figure that underscores the intensity of this migration wave.
Conversely, India’s government is trying to walk a tightrope. Prime Minister Modi has forged a public affinity with Mr. Trump, calling him a “dear friend.” At the same time, India is cooperating quietly with Trump’s migration crackdown. Reports suggest that New Delhi has been working to facilitate the return of as many as 18,000 Indian illegal immigrants under final removal orders, an effort to protect robust legal immigration channels like H-1B visas for skilled workers. This collaboration reflects both diplomacy and pragmatism, aimed at avoiding punitive U.S. tariffs and maintaining trade and defense ties while shielding India from the glare of deportation headlines.
Indian officials, while guarded, acknowledge their engagement in tackling illegal immigration. “We are against illegal migration,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesman for India’s Foreign Ministry, emphasizing India’s interest in promoting legal avenues of migration instead.
Legal Immigration at a Crossroads
At the heart of the migration debate are the coveted H-1B visas, a crucial pipeline for skilled Indian workers to securely enter the U.S. While tech moguls like Elon Musk champion these visas as essential to attracting global talent, others in the U.S. argue that these jobs ought to go to Americans. The Biden administration had already started tightening migration pathways; Trump’s presidency seems poised to take this further.
India’s external focus on protecting legal migration is underscored by its domestic political sensitivities. Modi, hailed as a harbinger of economic growth, finds himself facing a stark contradiction. Even in his home state Gujarat, once touted as an economic miracle, migration to the U.S.—both legal and illegal—is widespread, with some villages losing nearly entire households to this phenomenon. The lure of a better future often outweighs the realities of India’s growing economy, one plagued by stark inequalities. As migration consultant Varun Sharma explains, many potential migrants, including India’s burgeoning middle class, harbor hopes that life in America will eclipse what they can achieve in their homeland.
The Emotional and Financial Cost of Migration
The sacrifices borne by families eager to send a loved one across the ocean underscore the human side of this story. Take Jagdish, a college worker from the Jasalpur village. His son spent five months stranded in Mexico before crossing into the U.S. illegally, only to be jailed for three months upon arrival. Now working at an American café, Jagdish’s son has since been joined by his wife. But the cost of this journey? More than $70,000—a staggering amount sourced through years of grueling work, lifelong savings, and heavy loans.
Jagdish described his sacrifices with real poignancy: “I don’t buy new clothes; I have cut down on fruits and milk.” His daily struggle now revolves around repaying a financial burden borne entirely for the hope of a better future for his son.
The sense of aspiration persists even amidst challenges. For instance, Rajanikant Patel and his wife, who run a Subway franchise in the U.S., reflect on their years as Indian immigrants with wary optimism. During their rare visits to their home village, Rajanikant muses about Trump’s policies, offering a tempered perspective: “Trump will do what he has to do… But Trump needs people to work there. Who will manage everything?”
Despite growing barriers, the pull of the U.S. remains strong. Immigration in Gujarat is often a status symbol, with families whose members are abroad commanding more social respect. Prospective grooms or brides without such international connections often find it harder to secure matches. Yet for the families left behind, migration’s toll is not only financial but deeply emotional, straining ties and dividing loved ones across continents.
Generations of Migration: An Enduring Dream
The migration story of India is far from new. Since the 1960s, when American immigration laws eased, Indians began moving to the U.S.—a period coinciding with India’s post-independence poverty. Decades later, despite India’s emergence as the world’s fifth-largest economy, vast economic disparities continue to push Indians to seek opportunities abroad. Improved connectivity and globalization ensure that the dream remains alive for countless families, even as barriers rise.
For many migrants, their choices are not merely economic but about pursuing vastly better living standards. “The quality of life here and there cannot be compared,” reflects Nila Ben, Rajanikant Patel’s wife. Migration has, for generations, embodied the possibility of bridging that gap.
Immigration consultants like Varun Sharma note that while some Indians continue to seek legal options like work or student visas, others opt for dangerous illegal routes. Sometimes, migrants fly to third-party countries under visitor visas and embark on arduous overland journeys to reach U.S. soil. Tragically, tales of deaths at borders—whether by drowning, freezing, or fatigue—have become disturbingly common, painting the sharp risks many Indians are willing to take.
Families Divided
For families, migration to the U.S. often represents both an ultimate goal and a source of enduring heartache. Vishnu Bhai Patel, a lemon trader from Gujarat, captures this bittersweet sentiment: while his engineering-student daughter studies in the U.S., he dreams of joining her through legal immigration someday. “My dream is for her to never come back,” he says, recognizing the opportunities she may find but lamenting the familial distance.
This desire for connection and progress is the driving force behind migration. Yet, it also highlights the paradox of villages like Mehsana in Gujarat: families simultaneously pride themselves on loved ones’ achievements abroad while grappling with the divide that migration inevitably causes.
A Delicate Balance
As the U.S.-India partnership deepens, especially in fields like technology, trade, and defense, the issue of migration strains the relationship’s undercurrents. While Prime Minister Modi seeks to position India positively on the global stage, the persistence of illegal immigration reflects harsh domestic truths. Economic unevenness, social pressures, and limited opportunities at home continue to push otherwise hopeful individuals into life-altering and often dangerous risks.
For Indian families, migration is rarely a one-dimensional decision. It’s a gamble of hope, sacrifice, and resilience. Whether through cracked temple bells ringing out prayers in Gujarat or calculated diplomacy at global forums, the pursuit of the American Dream will remain a powerful, complicated narrative—one that straddles continents, cultures, and aspirations.
