Deportation of Indian Immigrants from US has begun

A U.S. military plane is deporting migrants to India, a U.S. official said on Monday (3 February 2025), marking the farthest destination yet for the Trump administration's military transport flights for migrants.

Trump has increasingly relied on the military to enforce his immigration agenda, deploying additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, using military aircraft to deport migrants, and even opening military bases to house them. An unnamed U.S. official told the Press late on Monday that a C-17 aircraft had departed for India with migrants aboard but would not arrive for at least 24 hours. However, the official did not provide further details. There was no immediate response from Indian authorities regarding the development, and the number of individuals aboard the deportation flight remains unknown. A C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft has the capacity to carry up to 130 people.

A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy declined to share details of the flight, stating: "The United States 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." India is the farthest destination of the Trump administration’s military deportation flights, Reuters reported. Trump has increasingly turned to the U.S. military for immigration enforcement, including sending additional troops to the southern border, using military aircraft for deportations, and utilising military bases to house migrants. The Pentagon has facilitated the deportation of over 5,000 immigrants held by U.S. authorities in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. Thus far, military aircraft have flown migrants to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro initially refused to allow two U.S. military planes carrying deported Colombians to land but later relented after Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs on the country’s exports to the United States. According to a U.S. official, the U.S. deported over 1,100 illegal migrants from India between October 2023 and September 2024. The most recent publicly acknowledged deportation flight to India was on 22 October, when approximately 100 illegal migrants were repatriated via a charter flight. There has been a "steady increase" in the deportation of illegal Indian migrants from the U.S. in recent years, the official noted during a virtual briefing last year.

India has expressed its willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on addressing illegal immigration as part of its broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in a media briefing last month that India opposes illegal immigration due to its links with organised crime. He affirmed that New Delhi would accept the return of all Indian nationals who have overstayed or are undocumented in the U.S., but only after verifying their nationality. Jaiswal noted that it would be "premature" to speculate on the exact number of illegal Indian immigrants in the U.S. but reassured that New Delhi "will take things forward" and facilitate the repatriation of such migrants. Sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that figures from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security suggest there are close to 18,000 illegal Indian immigrants in the U.S.

Military flights are a particularly costly method of deportation. Reuters reported that a recent military deportation flight to Guatemala likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant. A senior U.S. official remarked on Tuesday that greater efforts are needed to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal migration and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by unscrupulous travel agencies. The U.S. is strengthening its cooperation with the Indian government to address these concerns and has expressed satisfaction with the level of assistance received from New Delhi thus far, according to Royce Bernstein Murray, Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy, during an online briefing.

“In fiscal year 2024, which concluded at the end of September, the U.S. repatriated over 1,100 Indian nationals. This reflects a steady increase in the removal of Indian nationals over the past few years,” she stated. When asked specifically about the 22 October charter flight that repatriated illegal migrants to India, Murray explained that "large-scale charter flights typically carry over 100 individuals." She described the operation as "smooth" and praised India’s "excellent cooperation." Murray did not disclose the total number of charter flights conducted in the last fiscal year to deport illegal migrants but confirmed that some individuals were also sent back on commercial flights. She noted that illegal migration attempts are significantly higher among individuals from the Americas compared to those from India due to geographic proximity.

“We are continuing to strengthen our working relationship with the Indian government across a range of issues and appreciate the partnership we have developed. This collaboration is essential in addressing challenges such as human smuggling and fraudulent travel agencies that exploit vulnerable migrants,” she said. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that India has been cooperating closely with the U.S. on this issue, given that tackling illegal migration is a priority for both nations. “We encourage individuals to seek work or education abroad through legal means. This is not just an issue with the U.S. but with several other countries as well,” said one source. Murray acknowledged that both countries must do more to raise awareness about the consequences of illegal migration. “It is critically important to provide clear, accessible information about legal pathways to the U.S. and the repercussions of attempting irregular migration. We need to reach individuals, including unaccompanied minors, who may fall victim to traffickers or unscrupulous actors,” she said.

Young people aspiring to study in the U.S. have been particularly targeted by human traffickers and illegal immigration networks. Both governments must ensure they receive accurate information regarding student visas and legal migration processes. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently conducted a "charter removal flight" to deport an undisclosed number of Indian nationals who failed to "establish a legal basis" to remain in the United States, according to an official statement. The statement, issued by the U.S. embassy, did not specify the number of Indian nationals on the 22 October flight. However, sources familiar with the matter indicated that the repatriation was part of ongoing bilateral cooperation aimed at discouraging illegal migration. “On 22 October, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted a large-frame charter removal flight to the Republic of India. This flight carried Indian nationals who did not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States,” the statement read.

With inputs from agencies

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