after the 1917 immigration act, indian immigration into the u.s. decreased. illegal entry through the mexican border became the way of entering the country for punjabi immigrants. california’s imperial valley had a large population of punjabis who assisted these immigrants and provided support. immigrants were able to blend in with this relatively homogenous population. the gadar party, an indian anti-british group with operations in california, facilitated illegal crossing of the mexican border, using funds from this migration “as a means to bolster the party’s finances”. the gadar party charged different prices for entering the us depending on whether punjabi immigrants were willing to shave off their beard and cut their hair. it is estimated that between 1920 and 1935, about 1,800 to 2,000 indian immigrants entered the u.s. illegally.