Paris, France – February 4, 2025 – In a significant move reflecting the United States’ intensified crackdown on illegal immigration, a US military flight carrying 205 Indian nationals departed for Punjab’s Amritsar on Monday. The deportation comes as part of the Donald Trump administration’s broader initiative to remove undocumented immigrants from the country1.
The C-17 military transport aircraft took off from San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to make a scheduled refueling stop at Ramstein Air Base in Germany before reaching India. Former President Donald Trump had earlier pledged to implement the largest deportation drive in American history1. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly compiled an initial list of nearly 18,000 undocumented Indian nationals as part of its broader effort to expel 1.5 million unauthorized immigrants from the country.
India has one of the largest populations of undocumented immigrants residing in the US. According to data from the Pew Research Centre, approximately 725,000 Indian nationals are living illegally in the United States, making them the third-largest group of unauthorized immigrants after Mexico and El Salvador1. Indian illegal immigrants in the US face a constant battle with fear and uncertainty. Many enter the country seeking better job opportunities, education, and an improved quality of life1. However, their undocumented status places them at significant risk of deportation, leading to disrupted lives and financial hardships.
The Indian government has stated that it is open to the return of undocumented Indian nationals, provided their identity is verified. Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that India has consistently maintained this policy and will continue to do so1. In January, Trump indicated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supportive of repatriating Indian nationals who had entered the US illegally. Following a phone call between the two leaders, Trump stated that Modi “will do what’s right” when it comes to accepting deported Indian immigrants1.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said India is against illegal immigration because it is linked to several forms of organized crime. “For Indians not just in the United States, but anywhere in the world, if they are Indian nationals and they are overstaying, or they are in a particular country without proper documentation, we will take them back, provided documents are shared with us so that we can verify their nationality and that they are indeed Indians2. If that happens to be the case, we will take things forward and facilitate their return to India,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing.
A spokesperson for the US Embassy in New Delhi said the US is “vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants. “These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk,” the spokesperson said.