India is one of the largest sources of immigrants to the United States, with nearly 150,000

people arriving each year. While the vast majority of Indians arrive in the U.S. legally,

an estimated 200,000 who are undocumented are now believed to be in the U.S.

Many come from relatively affluent regions of India, including the state of Punjab, where earlier this year several hundred deportees were returned on U.S. military aircraft.

From Punjab, Fred de Sam Lazaro filed this report.

Agriculture is the bread and butter of Punjab's economy, sustaining generations of farmers.

But across the landscape of wheat fields are billboards promising a different kind of abundance,

life in Australia, the UK, Canada, or for many the big prize, the USA.

And for families who've made it, it for many the big prize, the USA.

And for families who've made it, it shouted from the rooftop, literally in this case, with a tall replica statue of liberty.

With translator Gurprith Singh, I popped in on Shamsher Singh's home.

America, the name is so big here.

He has a brother who's lived in America for 13 years, he told us.

Whenever we need something, if we want to buy some land, we ask for his help, and he helps us.

America is royalty, and if our name is attached to the royalty, that is God's blessing.

Our nation is blessed to be home to millions of hardworking citizens of Indian and Southeast Asian heritage.

For half a century, legal immigration from Punjab and across India has grown steadily, especially

since the 90s.

The Hindu Festival of Light, Lipavali, has been celebrated at the White House.

They've come from India's elite, doctors, scholars and engineers, especially in the tech

industry, entrepreneurs in hospitality and trucking among

other businesses.

...