The Indian government has confirmed that 487 additional Indian nationals in the United States have been identified for deportation, as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing a press conference on Friday, stated that the U.S. authorities have officially notified New Delhi about these individuals, all of whom have received final removal orders.
“We’ve been told there are 487 presumed Indian citizens with final removal orders,” Misri said, adding that the number could rise as further details emerge.
This announcement follows the January 5 deportation of 104 Indian migrants, who were flown back to India on a U.S. military aircraft and landed in Amritsar. Most of these deportees were from Haryana and Punjab, having entered the U.S. through unauthorized channels.
The deportees claimed that they were subjected to harsh treatment, with their hands and legs cuffed throughout the journey and only unshackled upon landing in India.
Acknowledging these concerns, Misri stated that the Indian government would formally raise the issue with U.S. authorities.
“The issue of inhumane treatment of deported Indian citizens is a valid concern, and we will engage with the U.S. on this matter,” he said.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing Rajya Sabha, revealed that since 2009, a total of 15,668 Indians have been deported from the U.S. He emphasized that the deportation process is not new and has been in place for several years.
Jaishankar further explained that deportations are carried out by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and since 2012, the use of restraints during transit has been part of the U.S. deportation protocol.
“However, we have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained, and deportees are provided with food, medical assistance, and other necessities during transit,” he assured.
The mass deportations highlight growing U.S.-India discussions over immigration policies, border security, and the treatment of deported individuals. With Trump’s administration tightening immigration laws, further deportations of Indian nationals in the U.S. may be expected in the near future.