US Deported 682 Indians Since January, Mostly For Entering Illegally, Says MEA

India's Ministry of External Affairs has disclosed that 682 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States since January 2025, with most of them attempting to enter the country illegally. Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that these deportations are not expected to have a significant impact on remittance flows to India, as the majority of the deportees were apprehended at the US border and deported after thorough verification.

The Indian government is collaborating closely with US authorities to address issues such as illegal immigration and human trafficking. Singh highlighted that the government is taking strong measures against criminal facilitators and illegal immigration networks. Additionally, the government is working to establish mutually beneficial and secure mobility frameworks to facilitate the movement of students, professionals, and tourists.

“The Government of India continues to work in close coordination with the US government on all cases of deportation involving individuals who have illegally entered the US, overstayed their visa, lived there without proper documentation, or have criminal convictions,” Singh said.

He further explained, “The list of individuals identified for deportation by the US is thoroughly scrutinised and verified by the relevant agencies of the Government of India. Only those verified as Indian nationals are accepted for deportation back to India.”

In response to a separate question, Singh noted that the government does not maintain data on individuals who may have entered the US through illegal means. However, based on accounts from returning deportees, the government has registered cases and is investigating several illegal immigration agents and human trafficking syndicates.

"Data on such people is only received from the US authorities in the context of repatriation exercises from time to time. Based on the harrowing accounts and testimonies of returning deportees, the Central and the respective state governments and agencies have registered cases, and investigations as well as actions are ongoing against several illegal immigration agents, criminal facilitators and human trafficking syndicates that run these rackets," he added.

The US has deported a total of 15,564 Indian nationals since 2009 to 2024, with 388 individuals deported since January 2025. The deportations have sparked concerns about the treatment of deportees, with the Indian government strongly registering its concerns with US authorities.