Illegal immigration creates economic, as well as political, problems for both Developed and Developing nations. Unwanted migration from Bangladesh or Nepal to India, and also from war-torn African countries to South Africa goes on in the 21st Century. However, a larger number of immigrants want to enter European and North American countries. Although the rules and regulations are quite strict in those countries, there are still some loopholes that allow immigrants to spend several days without being noticed. The huge gap (between Developing and Developed nations) in income, as well as standard of living, attracts both legal and illegal immigrants to settle in European or North American countries.

High-tech production methods in industry or service sectors have reduced the demand for low-skilled labourers in different countries in recent times. Hence, it has become increasingly difficult for unskilled migrant workers to directly enter the Developed countries. Therefore, there is an increase in the number of illegal immigrants.

Taking advantage of this situation, some illegal organisations have got involved in human trafficking in Asia, Africa and South America. These organisations provide two types of services in the US-Mexico border area. Small human trafficking organisations only help migrants to cross the border in exchange for money. Those people would have to make their own arrangements in the US. Most of them work as daily wage labourers in Texas or New Mexico, and settle there without proper documents. The term Coyote or Fox is used to refer to individuals who guide and facilitate the illegal crossing of migrants. However, big human trafficking organisations provide illegal immigrants with shelters uopn their arrival in the US. However, it is a different sort of slavery as these people are forced to do everything… from household work to prostitution. Often, they do not get paid.

President Donald John Trump wanted to build a 1,000-mile wall made of steel during his first presidency mainly to prevent these people from crossing the US-Mexico border. The Trump Administration has decided to take a more aggressive policy this time and started sending immigrants from different countries back to their homelands. Although US President has claimed that he considers Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a friend, he did not hesitate to deport thousands of Indians from the US in 2025.

Different countries consider the issue of illegal immigration in different manners, and the US is no exception. According to a report prepared by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the largest number of illegal immigrants in the US arrive from neighbouring Canada. They come to the US mainly for a short period of time, but stay there even after the expiry of their visas. However, the Trump Administration did not send them back to Canada in cargo planes.

Canada, the US and some other Developed countries offered citizenship to a number of illegal immigrants in the past. Interestingly, both pro-immigration and anti-immigration rhetoric are quite strong in those countries. In the US, pro-immigration government used to adopt a policy, called Amnesty, every 10 years in order to grant citizenship to illegal immigrants. This policy encouraged a huge number of illegal immigrants to cross the Mexico border. The Barack Obama Administration decided to postpone deportations of illegal immigrants from the US for two years. The US also legalised 11 million illegal immigrants in 2013.

As the political climate in Western Europe is quite democratic, illegal immigrants and refugees are treated well there, at least from the legal perspective. Although the Police and the political administration are strict in Western European countries, illegal immigrants receive full support from the judiciary. In fact, they are considered as State Guests before any decision is made on immigration. Of course, the situation could change, if Far-Right governments come to power.

In such a scenario, attempts to illegally enter a foreign country need to be stopped. At the same time, countries should hold talks regarding opportunities for unskilled workers in foreign countries at the diplomatic level. There is a scope of such discussions under the Mode 4 of the World Trade Organisation‘s (WTO) rules. The Mode 4 refers to the movement of natural persons (individuals) who are service suppliers, either as independent professionals or employees, to supply services in the territory of another WTO member-country. One should not forget that the US is trying to use immigrants as a bargaining chip with other countries during trade talks.

Developing nations used this method in the past. In the mid-1990s, the President of Mexico told the US Government that it would be possible to stop the flow of illegal immigrants, if Washington DC would invest in the Central American country. The US accepted the proposal and boosted production in Mexico. The move eventually lowered the number of illegal immigrants. The Trump Administration could adopt a similar policy to prevent the migration of unskilled workers from India and other countries to the US.

Unfortunately, the Indian foreign policy-makers are yet to discuss such a proposal with Washington DC. It has become quite important for the Government of India to stop the flow of illegal immigrants to the Developed nations on an immediate basis.

Boundless Ocean of Politics on Facebook

Boundless Ocean of Politics on Twitter

Boundless Ocean of Politics on Linkedin

Contact us: kousdas@gmail.com

Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das