US flies back expelled Indian migrants
1. Neither New Delhi nor Washington have commented specifically on deportations
**AMRITSAR, India:** A US Air Force plane transporting over a hundred Indian migrants deported from the United States touched down in India on Wednesday, according to local media reports.
Since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, thousands of undocumented migrants have been detained, including some with criminal allegations. An AFP photographer in Amritsar, a northern Indian city, witnessed the US military aircraft arriving, with Indian media stating it carried 104 Indian migrants.
Trump’s series of executive actions aimed at overhauling US immigration policies is estimated to affect approximately 11 million undocumented migrants. Neither the Indian nor US governments have issued specific statements regarding these deportations. However, a US embassy spokesperson in India emphasized that Washington is “vigorously enforcing its borders, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants.”
Last week, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated New Delhi’s stance, stating that India is “firmly opposed to illegal migration, particularly when it is connected to organized crime.” Jaiswal added, “As part of India-US migration and mobility cooperation, both nations are working together to deter illegal migration while expanding opportunities for legal migration from India to the US.”
Despite being the world’s fifth-largest economy and boasting impressive GDP growth, hundreds of thousands of Indians continue to seek better opportunities abroad each year. While the Indian diaspora is spread globally, the United States remains a preferred destination.
Data from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement reveals that over 5,000 Indians were deported from the US between 2018 and 2023. During Trump’s presidency (2017–2021), he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi—both of whom have faced criticism for authoritarian tendencies—shared a close relationship.
Indian media has widely reported that Modi is likely to visit Washington next week, where he is expected to meet with Trump.
