Fri Mar 07 16:07:33 UTC 2025: ## Thousands of Indian Minors Face Deportation as US Visa Rules Loom

**Washington D.C.** – Thousands of Indian children brought to the United States as minors under the H-4 visa, dependent on their H-1B visa-holding parents, face an uncertain future. Current US immigration laws stipulate that these dependents lose their legal status upon turning 21, unless their parents have obtained a Green Card by that time. The massive backlog in the US employment-based green card system, disproportionately impacting Indian immigrants, is exacerbating this issue.

This situation has led many young adults to consider emigrating to countries with more flexible immigration policies, such as Canada and the UK. The phenomenon, termed “self-deportation,” forces individuals to leave the country or seek alternative, often precarious, immigration pathways to avoid official deportation. Estimates suggest around 10,000 individuals are affected annually.

Dip Patel, Founder and President of Improve the Dream, a grassroots organization advocating for these young immigrants, highlighted the issue in an interview with NDTV. He explained that while the “aging out” problem has existed for years, it has worsened due to the increasing Green Card backlog. Patel emphasized that this is not a recent issue, and despite the longstanding nature of the problem, no significant changes have been made by the US government to address the backlog.

However, a glimmer of hope exists with the introduction of the bipartisan “America’s Children Act” in Congress. This legislation aims to provide a pathway to citizenship for children who have grown up in the US, maintained legal status, and want to contribute to the country. The act would allow these individuals to retain their place in the Green Card queue and eventually apply for citizenship after meeting specific criteria, including education and length of residency.

Patel stressed the significant economic contribution of these individuals, many of whom work in STEM and healthcare fields. He also clarified that concerns about immigration crackdowns primarily relate to illegal, not legal, immigration. While a two-year extension policy under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) offered some temporary relief for undocumented individuals, this program is currently under legal challenge and faces potential elimination. The upcoming H-1B visa registration period (March 7-24) further underscores the precarious situation facing these young immigrants and their families.

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