Illegal immigration routes to the United States have evolved significantly over time due to several factors, including changes in immigration policies, socioeconomic and political conditions in countries of origin, and the intervention of human trafficking networks.
The Donkey Route: Navigating Through South and Central America
Agents guiding undocumented Indian migrants often lead them through the “donkey route,” a path involving multiple countries until reaching either Canada or Mexico. Latin American nations such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela are popular initial destinations, providing visas on arrival for Indian citizens. From there, migrants make their way to Mexico, embarking on a risky journey on foot to cross the US border. Despite the dangers, the US Customs and Border Protection encountered an alarming 96,917 undocumented Indian immigrants in the year 2022-’23, showcasing a stark contrast to the mere 1,500 a decade ago.
“Key periods marked the migration from Mexico to the United States, from its beginnings until 1929 with the rise of railroads in the United States and the need for Mexican labor; the migration that occurred during the Second World War until 1965 when undocumented migration began, due to the end of the “bracero program,” a binational agreement that sought to supply Mexican agricultural workers to American crop fields and farms,” says Bogota based Cristhian Salamanca Garcia.
Adding, “It is around this same time that significant migration begins too to occur from Central America, the Caribbean and Asian countries. In 1986, the United States passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, toughening the laws against undocumented migration, in addition to strengthening surveillance at the main border crossing points, leading, over time, migrants to more dangerous journeys.”
What are the reasons people come from Asia and pass through South America to reach the United States?
In his view, during the 1990s and early 2000s, most illegal migrants entered the United States directly through the border with Mexico. The routes were more direct and less organized by traffic networks. However, as the United States stepped up security on its border with Mexico, including building physical barriers and increasing patrols, migration routes became more dangerous and difficult.
With direct routes to the United States becoming more risky, illegal migrants began to look for alternatives, with longer and more complex routes, passing through several Central American countries and, in some cases, even South America, leading to an increase in dependence on “coyotes” or human traffickers.
The routes through Latin America are varied and often clandestine. Migrants do not always pass through the same countries and their journeys are often covert and dangerous.
Who are the people behind such illegal trafficking?
Punjabis and Gujaratis, constituting a significant portion of the Indian diaspora in the US, add another dimension to the surge. Their relatives, already living the “American dream,” create a perception that this dream is more accessible to them. A growing section of English-educated, affluent Indians seeks opportunities beyond India, perceiving the US as the promised land. However, the existing legal framework struggles to accommodate the escalating demand for work visas, further pushing individuals towards undocumented migration.
According to Salamanca “it is the networks of human traffickers in the country of origin who convince victims, with desires and dreams of a better future, that it is “possible” to reach the United States, but what the victims fail to foresee are the great risks that can arise on the journey, ranging from exposure to violence, exploitation, rape, or death.”
Furthermore, these “coyotes” are the ones who identify countries with more open immigration policies, turning them into accessible entry and transit points for migrants from other regions, including Asia and Africa. The migrants reach these routes because of the difficulties to obtain a valid visa from Europe or the US, while they can enter other countries with more flexible visa application schemes.