As part of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies, the United States has started deporting illegal Indian immigrants. On Monday, February 3, a U.S. military aircraft, a C-17, departed from San Antonio, Texas, carrying 205 Indian nationals back to India. According to Indian news outlet NDTV, India is the most distant destination for U.S. military repatriation flights.
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced plans to deport an additional 5,000 immigrants from El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. Previously, U.S. military planes had deported immigrants to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras.
Last week, the Trump administration implemented an emergency immigration policy, initiating the deportation of illegal immigrants via military aircraft. So far, six flights have transported immigrants to Latin America. However, two of these planes were unable to land in Colombia, as the country denied entry to U.S. military aircraft and opted to return its citizens via its own flights.
Speaking to journalists, Trump stated, “For the first time, we are identifying illegal immigrants, putting them on military planes, and sending them back to their home countries.”
On January 27, Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed immigration issues over a phone call. Trump mentioned that Modi was taking the “right steps” and agreed to accept the return of illegal Indian immigrants.
According to a Bloomberg News report, the United States and India have identified approximately 18,000 Indian immigrants who are residing illegally in the U.S.
Additionally, a significant portion of the U.S. H-1B visa program for skilled workers is held by Indian nationals.
On the day Trump took office, the U.S. Congress passed a bill authorizing the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants, particularly those who entered unlawfully or have been convicted of specific crimes. To enforce strict immigration policies, the Trump administration deployed military forces at the Mexican border, set up detention facilities on military bases, and used military planes for deportations. However, deporting immigrants via military aircraft is expensive.
According to a Reuters report, the cost of deporting each immigrant on a military aircraft is approximately $4,675, which is five times the price of a first-class ticket on American Airlines from El Paso, Texas.