US President Donald Trump Announces Prime Minister Modis Upcoming Visit in February, Signaling a New Chapter in US-India Relations (X/ @MumbaichaDon)
In a significant move, the U.S. military has deported a group of illegal Indian migrants, marking the first such operation since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. A U.S. official confirmed to Reuters on Monday that a C-17 military aircraft carrying the migrants had departed but would take over 24 hours to reach India. This deportation aligns with Trump’s intensified immigration policies, leveraging military resources to strengthen border security, expedite deportations, and house detainees at military bases.
The Trump administration has previously deported migrants to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras. However, India is the farthest country to receive deportees since Trump’s reinstatement. The move underscores growing concerns in Washington regarding illegal Indian immigration, a matter reportedly discussed between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During a recent conversation, Trump emphasized the importance of India taking back its illegal immigrants. The White House described the call between the two leaders as "productive," focusing on deepening bilateral cooperation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also raised the issue of "irregular immigration" with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, reinforcing America's stance on stricter deportation policies.
India has acknowledged the issue, with Jaishankar stating that New Delhi "firmly opposes" illegal migration. He highlighted that such activities often lead to other unlawful practices, affecting India's global reputation. “If there are any of our citizens who are not here legally and we are sure they are our citizens, we have been open to their legitimate return to India,” Jaishankar affirmed.
Between October 2023 and September 2024, the U.S. deported over 1,100 Indian nationals. Royce Murray, Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) noted a consistent rise in deportations of illegal Indian immigrants in recent years.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the deportations as part of a “regular consular dialogue and arrangement” between the two nations. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed that India continues to engage in discussions with the U.S. to ensure the proper mobility and return of Indian nationals.
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