AMRITSAR, India — On Wednesday, a U.S. military aircraft arrived in a northern Indian city carrying 104 Indian migrants who were deported from the United States. This marked the first repatriation flight of its kind under a crackdown initiated by the previous Trump administration, as reported by airport officials.
The individuals returning to India had unlawfully entered the U.S. over various years and hailed from multiple Indian states. This operation coincides with the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, with talks centered on immigration issues discussed in a recent phone call between Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump. During their conversation, Trump emphasized the necessity for India to procure more American-manufactured security products and to ensure a fair trade balance between the two nations.
India has worked in tandem with the U.S. on this issue, expressing its willingness to accept the deported migrants following proper verification processes. The Indian government maintains a firm stance against illegal immigration due, in part, to its connection with various organized crime activities. Consequently, India has not voiced opposition to the deportation of its citizens by the U.S.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s External Affairs Ministry, mentioned last month that the nation is prepared to repatriate Indian nationals who may be overstaying or residing without adequate documentation in foreign countries, contingent on receiving verification documents to confirm their nationality as Indian citizens. He stated, “If that happens to be the case, then we will take things forward. We will facilitate the return to India.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked earlier this week that the deportation flights are an effective strategy to reduce illegal migration, which he characterized as harmful and destabilizing. The State Department noted that these deportations serve as a deterrent to others contemplating illegal migration.
India’s junior External Affairs Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh disclosed to Parliament that from November 2023 to October 2024, 519 Indian nationals were deported back to India, according to data from the U.S. government. He added that the U.S. conducts deportations through a mix of commercial and chartered flights.
Reports indicate that approximately 725,000 undocumented Indians reside in the U.S., primarily originating from Punjab and Gujarat. It was also noted that Indians represented around 3% of all illegal border crossings into the U.S. in 2024. Media outlets reported that as of November last year, there were 20,407 undocumented Indian nationals facing final removal orders or currently being held in detention facilities operated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
