Crossing borders illegally has long been a contentious issue, particularly in the United States. Thousands attempt to enter America each year to pursue a better life, often risking everything, even their lives. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reported over 2.76 million undocumented immigrant crossings.
Various economic, social, and geopolitical factors drive these unlawful entries into the U.S. Below are the top 10 countries from which illegal border crossings into the U.S. happen.
Featured Image Credit: HayDmitriy /Depositphotos.com.
Mexico
Mexico consistently tops the list of illegal border crossings into the United States, with approximately 40% of all undocumented immigrants entering from this country.
A report by the Pew Research Center shows that The U.S. Border Patrol reported more than 1.6 million encounters with migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in the 2021 fiscal year, more than four times the number of the 2020 fiscal year and the highest annual total on record. In recent years, it’s estimated that over 400,000 individuals attempt to cross the border illegally each year, driven by a myriad of factors. The primary reasons are economic struggles, violence from drug cartels, and the quest for better educational opportunities.
Guatemala
Guatemala ranks closely behind Mexico, and many of its citizens make perilous journeys to the U.S. in pursuit of safety and opportunity. A World Bank report shows that 55.1% of the Guatemalan population lives in poverty, and 71.1% of the employed population is employed in the informal sector, earning around $7 a day.
This dire economic situation is exacerbated by widespread violence and political instability, compelling families to leave everything behind. As hope for a better future dwindles at home, the dangerous trek north becomes a desperate gamble for survival and prosperity.
Honduras
Honduras is another country from which significant illegal border crossings into the U.S. originate, influenced by a confluence of poverty, gang violence, and natural disasters.
As of 2023, the World Bank reported poverty at $6.85 daily, reaching 51.3% of the population. The country has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, primarily driven by gang activity; in 2021, the murder rate was reported at 35 per 100,000 people by the World Population Review, significantly impacting communities and instilling fear. Additionally, recurrent natural disasters, such as hurricanes and droughts, have devastated the infrastructure and agricultural sectors, leaving countless families with no choice but to seek refuge and a better life in the United States.
El Salvador
El Salvador has emerged as a significant source of illegal border crossings into the United States, driven by intense gang violence and crippling economic hardships.
In recent years, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported hundreds of thousands of encounters with Salvadoran migrants, with numbers peaking in 2021 amid escalating violence combined with political uncertainty and limited economic opportunities. The Human Rights Watch report shows that between 2014 and 2018, the U.S. government deported more than 111,000 El Salvadorans.
Venezuela
Venezuela may not be the first country that comes to mind when discussing illegal border crossings into the United States. Still, it has emerged as a significant source of undocumented migrants in recent years.
In 2023, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reported 263,000 encounters with Venezuelans, and 54,833 were arrested, as per the Voice of America. The country is facing a deep economic and political crisis, with widespread poverty and inflation rates reaching an alarming 283% in 2022, according to a report by Trading Economics. This dire situation has forced many Venezuelans to flee their homeland in search of better opportunities and stability, making the dangerous journey northward.
Brazil
Brazil has become an increasingly notable source of illegal border crossings into the United States, particularly in the context of escalating economic challenges and political instability. Most people who travel to Mexico pose as tourists, taking advantage of Brazilians’ non-visa entry into Mexico. Reuters reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended 46,280 Brazilians within the first 11 months of the 2021 fiscal year.
With a struggling economy marked by a high unemployment rate of about 14% and inflation hitting double digits, many Brazilians are compelled to chase the American dream.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua has increasingly contributed to illegal border crossings into the United States, with citizens fleeing a backdrop of political repression and dire economic instability.
BBC reports that 111,000 Nicaraguan migrants were detained in 2022 by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a stark indicator of the desperation faced by many. With poverty affecting nearly 45% of the population and surviving below $3 a day, families are forced to leave their homes in search of safety and a better life. As the government’s authoritarian grip tightens, leaving Nicaraguans with limited freedoms, the road north presents a problematic yet hopeful option for those yearning for change.
Cuba
Cuba has long faced political repression and economic hardship, especially under Fidel Castro’s rule from 1959 until his resignation in 2008. His regime’s socialist reforms aimed to equalize wealth but led to widespread poverty and a stagnant economy with limited access to basic goods and services.
The U.S. embargo, in place since 1960, worsened these struggles by restricting trade, causing many Cubans to risk their lives to reach the United States for better opportunities. Today, economic challenges persist, with critical shortages of food and medicine fueling a new wave of migration as many flee ongoing repression in search of hope and freedom.
Haiti
Haiti, a nation grappling with profound challenges, is a poignant example of how natural disasters, gang violence, and political instability can compel citizens to seek refuge elsewhere. In 2021, approximately 99,000 unauthorized immigrants from Haiti entered the U.S. In recent years, devastating earthquakes and hurricanes have wreaked havoc in Haiti, with the 2010 earthquake alone claiming over 200,000 lives and displacing millions.
Coupled with a staggering homicide rate that surged to 13 per 100,000 people in 2021, as per Statista, the relentless grip of gang violence has left communities in fear and despair. As political turmoil continues to unravel any semblance of stability, countless Haitians embark on dangerous journeys to the United States, hoping to escape the chaos and forge a brighter future.
India
India has increasingly emerged as a significant contributor to the flow of migrants seeking a better life in the United States, driven by the allure of improved economic prospects and access to high-quality education.
NBC reports that in the 2023 fiscal year, 96,917 Indians were encountered and either apprehended, expelled, or denied entry. As the world’s largest democracy continues to grapple with challenges such as unemployment and poverty, many young Indians are ambitious to explore opportunities that promise growth and success abroad.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.