A U.S. military aircraft carrying 104 deported Indian migrants landed in Amritsar, India, on Wednesday, marking the first such deportation flight from the United States to India.
The deported individuals had entered the U.S. illegally over the years and hailed from various Indian states. This action precedes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Washington, where immigration is expected to be a key discussion point with President Donald Trump.
India has expressed its readiness to accept deported citizens after verifying their nationality. The Indian government opposes illegal immigration due to its association with organized crime and has cooperated with the U.S. in this deportation process.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that these deportation flights are an effective measure to deter illegal migration, which he described as destructive and destabilizing. The State Department emphasized that such actions send a clear message to those considering illegal migration.
Between November 2023 and October 2024, 519 Indian nationals were deported from the U.S. to India. Reports indicate that there are approximately 725,000 undocumented Indians in the U.S., primarily from Punjab and Gujarat states, accounting for about 3% of all illegal border crossings in the U.S. in 2024.
