New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday reported that 2,417 Indian nationals have been deported or repatriated from the United States since January 2025.
During the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s firm stance against illegal migration, emphasizing its commitment to promoting legal migration pathways.
“The number of deportations from the United States since January stands at 2,417. India strongly supports legal migration and opposes illegal migration,” Jaiswal said.
He explained that the government ensures proper verification of nationality before taking back individuals without legal status. “Whenever someone is identified as lacking legal status abroad and is referred to us with documents claiming Indian nationality, we conduct background checks, confirm their nationality, and then facilitate their return. This process has been followed for deportations from the US,” he added.
Addressing visa fraud and related issues, Jaiswal stressed, “We want to encourage legal migration and clamp down on illegal practices that undermine these efforts.” He noted that the government works closely with state authorities to curb illegal migration and regularly issues advisories warning Indian nationals against dubious employment opportunities, particularly in Southeast Asia.
MEA also highlighted India’s close cooperation with the United States on migration matters, including deportation of Indian nationals without legal status. Updated figures indicate that since January 2025, around 1,080 Indians have been deported from the US, with roughly 62% returning on commercial flights.
Jaiswal further commented on US guidance for Student and Exchange Visitor visa applicants, stressing that the welfare of Indian students abroad remains a top priority. “While visa issuance is a sovereign function, we hope Indian students’ applications are considered on merit so they can join their academic programs on time,” he said.
