The sharp rise in undocumented Indian migrants in the US, as revealed by a new study, highlights the growing desperation behind economic aspirations. While Indians are often associated with high-skilled professions, a different reality is unfolding. Increasing numbers are risking everything ~ trapped between false promises, legal uncertainty, and the tightening grip of US immigration policies. Most undocumented Indian migrants come from Punjab and Gujarat, two of India’s wealthier states.

This is not a case of extreme poverty but of unmet aspirations. Many families, lured by tales of success from relatives abroad, are willing to sell land and assets to fund perilous journeys. The irony is striking ~ those who can afford to migrate illegally are often better off than those who cannot. For them, the American Dream is no longer about opportunity but escape from a system that offers limited upward mobility. A troubling aspect of this trend is........

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