(UNITED STATES) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained approximately 23,830 Indian nationals at U.S. borders in 2025, an average of roughly 65 apprehensions per day, according to CBP data.
That pace worked out to one Indian national intercepted approximately every 20 minutes throughout 2025. The total marked a steep decline from 2024, when CBP recorded 85,119 Indian nationals intercepted.
Secretary Kristi Noem pointed to broader enforcement results in a December 4, 2025, statement.
“Month after month, we are delivering results that were once thought impossible: the most secure border in history and unmatched enforcement successes. Thanks to President Trump‘s leadership and the dedication of DHS law enforcement, America’s borders are safer than ever before,” Noem said.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott also highlighted the agency’s efforts on December 4, 2025.
“These numbers reflect the tireless efforts of our agents and officers who are delivering results that redefine border security. We’re not slowing down. We’re setting the pace for the future,” Scott said.
The 2025 calendar-year figures captured a continued flow of Indian nationals to the U.S. border system even as overall numbers fell. Encounters occurred primarily at the U.S.–Mexico and U.S.–Canada borders, where CBP officers record undocumented entries and detain people for processing.
Fiscal-year data showed a similar pattern. For Fiscal Year 2025, which ran from Oct. 2024 to Sept. 2025, CBP recorded 34,146 encounters with Indian nationals, a 62% drop from FY 2024.
Acting Commissioner Pete Flores described the administration’s approach earlier in the year.
“The men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection continue to aggressively implement the President’s Executive Orders to secure our borders, and as a result of this leadership, we have achieved historic lows in border apprehensions,” Flores said on March 12, 2025.
U.S. officials have also described months in 2025 as reaching record-low overall illegal crossing totals, while continuing enforcement operations at the southern border. DHS and CBP leadership have framed the shift as the product of sustained deterrence measures.
At the same time, authorities have emphasized that migrants still attempt to enter the United States without authorization for economic and employment reasons. Many cite better job opportunities and wages in the United States as a motivating factor.
Migration routes have also evolved. Indian nationals have traveled through third countries, including Canada, before attempting entry, part of widely reported irregular migration pathways referenced in government summaries of border activity.
As enforcement intensified at the Southwest border with Mexico, many migrants shifted to the Northern border with Canada. Since early 2025, Indian nationals have increasingly utilized transit hubs like Dubai and Istanbul to reach Canada before attempting to enter the U.S. on foot, the government summary said.
Canadian policy changes and deterrence measures also factored into the geographic shift. Reports cited in the government summary said Indian encounters on the U.S.–Canada border fell significantly in 2025 compared with the prior year, reflecting enforcement cooperation and policy changes in Canada aimed at curbing misuse of visitor visas and temporary stays.
CBP’s border enforcement toolkit has included expedited removal processes for certain groups, as part of what officials describe as strict procedures to deter irregular entries. DHS leaders have paired that message with repeated encouragement to use legal immigration channels.
Both U.S. and Canadian authorities have emphasized legal pathways such as work visas, student visas, family-based petitions, and asylum. Those options, officials have said, offer structured routes that align with immigration policy and avoid the dangers and legal complications of irregular entry.
Under U.S. law, migrants who are apprehended can request asylum or other forms of relief, a reality that can influence attempts along irregular routes. Civil society organizations and migration experts, as described in the government summary, have also highlighted risks linked to irregular crossings, including for families and unaccompanied minors.
DHS and CBP have flagged changes in who shows up at the border. The government summary said the majority of apprehended Indian nationals are single adults seeking better economic opportunities, while also pointing to what it called a “worrying trend” of unaccompanied minors being found near the borders.
Despite the decline in Indian apprehensions from 2024 to 2025, the flow remained large enough to keep pressure on the U.S. border and detention system. The “every 20 minutes” pace underscored persistent demand to migrate even with stepped-up enforcement.
Officials have also pointed to removals as part of the broader strategy. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin cited totals in a January 20, 2026, statement.
“Today, we thank our law enforcement for a record breaking first year of achievements including more than 670,000 removals and two million self-deportations. DHS is committed to continuing to remove dangerous illegal aliens from American communities,” McLaughlin said.
The government summary said the United States increased the use of charter and military flights for direct removals. By late 2025, over 2,400 Indians had been deported since the start of the year, including high-profile repatriations to Amritsar.
Enforcement data has been accompanied by accounts of danger along irregular routes. In May 2025, a boat capsizing near California resulted in the deaths of two Indian children, ages 10 and 14, the government summary said.
For Indian students, professionals and families weighing relocation, the consequences of unauthorized entry can extend well beyond a single encounter with border agents. The government summary warned that unauthorized border crossing can result in detention, removal, and serious long-term consequences for future visa eligibility or lawful stay.
U.S. officials have continued to promote lawful routes for Indian nationals, including work sponsorships, student programs, family petitions, and asylum filings. Authorities have described those channels as preferable to irregular entry, both for compliance reasons and because of safety concerns tied to overland and maritime crossings.
The statistics referenced in the government summary draw on CBP operational reporting, including CBP’s operational statistics, with DHS statements published through DHS press releases. The summary also cited corroborating sources including the USCIS newsroom and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Homeland Security Statistics.
Even with the year-over-year drop, the 2025 totals showed that Indian nationals remained a steady presence in U.S. border apprehensions, and officials signaled they intend to keep pressure on unauthorized crossings while steering migrants toward legal pathways.
Detentions Fall to 65 a Day as Indian Nationals Apprehensions Drop at U.S. Border
CBP data for 2025 reveals that 23,830 Indian nationals were detained at U.S. borders, a major decline from the 85,119 recorded in 2024. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and CBP officials credit strict deterrence and executive orders for this 62% fiscal year drop. However, migration persists via Canada and transit hubs like Dubai, with authorities reporting over 670,000 total removals across all nationalities.
