New Delhi: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that more than 1,000 Indian citizens have been deported or returned from the United States since January 2025. During a press briefing, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal revealed that approximately 62% of these individuals returned via commercial flights, although further specifics were not disclosed.
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| A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft carrying undocumented Indian migrants deported by the US at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab, India, on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. The US began deporting the first batch of undocumented Indian migrants since President Donald Trump returned to office threatening trade action against countries who didn't comply with his immigration policies. Photographer: Prakash Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images |
This development follows a tightening of U.S. immigration policies under the administration of former President Donald Trump, who previously emphasized the need to curb undocumented immigration. Trump had also commented that India would “do what’s right” regarding the return of its undocumented nationals.
In a high-profile incident earlier this year, over 100 Indian nationals were deported on a U.S. military aircraft. Several reports alleged that some individuals were restrained during transit.
Mr. Jaiswal highlighted that India and the United States maintain “strong cooperation on migration-related matters.” He clarified that India confirms the identity and citizenship status of individuals before repatriating them.
U.S. immigration authorities have reportedly identified around 18,000 Indian nationals believed to have entered the country without legal authorization.
US Issues Warning on Visa Overstays
Earlier this month, the U.S. Embassy in India issued a warning emphasizing the consequences of overstaying a visa. The advisory stated that individuals who remain in the U.S. beyond the validity of their visa—regardless of how they entered—could face deportation and even permanent bans from re-entering the country.
Policy Changes Affecting Indian Students
Mr. Jaiswal also addressed recent changes to the U.S. student visa process, which are expected to affect Indian students aspiring to study in American universities. The U.S. recently announced a temporary halt to new visa interview appointments for foreign students as it considers expanding the scope of social media background checks.
“We respect the sovereign right of nations to issue visas. However, we hope Indian student applications will be evaluated fairly, based on merit, and that they will be able to begin their academic sessions on schedule,” Jaiswal said.
During the 2023–24 academic year, around 330,000 Indian students were enrolled in U.S. educational institutions, making India the largest contributor of international students to the United States.
U.S. Tightens Visa Scrutiny for Chinese Nationals
In a related move, the U.S. government has announced plans to intensify visa revocations for Chinese students—especially those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or pursuing studies in sensitive areas such as technology and national security.
These developments reflect the ongoing shift in U.S. immigration and visa policies, impacting thousands of international travelers and students—particularly from India and China.
