Washington: For nearly 134,000 dependent Indian immigrants in the United States, turning 21 this year could be a ticking clock that could possibly force them into “self-deportation” from the only country they’ve ever known as home.
Known as “documented dreamers,” these individuals arrived in the US as children with their NRI parents on H-4 dependent visas. However, the moment they turn 21, their visa expires, leaving them in legal limbo.
Until now, US immigration policies provided a two-year window for these young adults to transition to a different visa status after “aging out.” But a series of policy shifts under the Trump administration, combined with recent court rulings, has thrown their future into uncertainty.
A recent ruling by a US federal appeals court in Texas has declared the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme unlawful, leaving thousands of young immigrants, including many Indians, facing an uncertain future.
Hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from various countries have received DACA permits. According to estimates, approximately 4,000 active DACA recipients are of South Asian or Indian origin.
With this programme now ruled unlawful, many young Indian immigrants are left with few options, uncertain about what lies ahead.
For some, switching to an F-1 student visa seems like a possible way to stay in the US, but it comes with major challenges. H-4 visa holders who transition to F-1 status are classified as international students, which means they lose access to in-state tuition, federal financial aid, and certain scholarships.
With limited options, some of these young immigrants are now considering moving to countries like Canada or the UK, where immigration policies are seen as more inclusive.
The massive backlog in the US employment-based green card system is a serious concern among this section. According to a report, around 10,70,000 Indians are currently stuck in the employment-based Green Card queue (EB-2 and EB-3 categories), with an estimated processing time of 134 years.
For dependent children waiting in this line, absence of DACA protection has compounded the worry. Many fear they may have to self-deport before they ever receive US residency.
