KEY POINTS
- 3,258 Indian nationals deported by the US between January and November 2025.
- Highest deportation figure since 2009, with total deportations touching 18,822.
- NIA investigates 27 human trafficking cases, arrests 169 people this year.
NEW DELHI: The United States has deported 3,258 Indian nationals this year, marking the highest number of deportations in the past 16 years. According to the figures presented by the Indian government in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the parliament), the total number of Indian nationals deported by the US since 2009 has now reached 18,822.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed that between January and November 28, 2025, 3,258 Indian nationals were deported. Out of these, 2,032 individuals were deported via regular commercial flights, while the remaining 1,226 were sent back on chartered flights operated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
This year’s deportation figure is the highest since 2009, when 734 Indians were sent back. The numbers increased in subsequent years, with 1,303 deportations in 2016, 2,042 in 2019, and a slight drop in later years before rising again in 2024 to 1,368. The surge in deportations this year is in line with the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal migration.
Jaishankar explained that the deportations involve individuals who have either entered the US illegally, overstayed their visas, or are found without proper documentation, including those with criminal convictions. He assured that the Indian government closely coordinates with US authorities to ensure that deportation only happens after thorough verification of the individual’s Indian nationality.
Responding to concerns about the mistreatment of deportees, Jaishankar mentioned a protest raised by the Indian government over the maltreatment of 73-year-old Harjit Kaur before her deportation in September. He assured that the US authorities had not shackled or restrained any women or children in recent deportation flights, but confirmed that Kaur had been mistreated in detention before being put on the flight.
In terms of human trafficking, Jaishankar highlighted the efforts of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has investigated 27 trafficking cases, arrested 169 people, and filed charges against 132 individuals. The NIA also arrested two significant traffickers in Haryana and Punjab earlier this year.
The minister responded to questions about the revocation of visas for Indian students involved in pro-Palestine protests, stating that US authorities began cancelling visas in April under a new policy. He emphasised that the US government has the right to make decisions regarding visa issuance based on national security concerns.
