New Delhi, Feb 06: A US military C-17 aircraft deported 205 Indian nationals from San Antonio, Texas, early Wednesday morning, as part of US President Donald Trump’s intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal immigration. The aircraft departed around 3 am IST and is expected to land in northern India.
The migrants, deported for various criminal charges, represent the first batch of illegal Indian immigrants to be returned since Trump’s return to office. This move comes shortly before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled US visit on February 12-13.
A US embassy spokesperson in New Delhi said, “The United States is vigorously enforcing its border tightening immigration laws and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message: Illegal migration is not worth the risk.”
An estimated 725,000 illegal Indian immigrants currently reside in the US, with around 20,000 ready to be deported, according to immigration authorities.
India has reiterated its willingness to cooperate on the issue of deportations. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during a recent meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated, “Illegal immigration is often linked to other unlawful activities. It is neither desirable nor beneficial for our reputation. If any of our citizens are found to be in the US illegally, and we verify their citizenship, we are open to their lawful return to India.”
Prime Minister Modi echoed this sentiment in conversations with Trump, who quoted Modi as saying, “he will do what is right,” indicating India’s readiness to accept its illegal immigrants.
The US military has taken an increasingly active role in immigration enforcement under Trump’s administration, deploying troops to the US-Mexico border, using military facilities to house migrants, and employing military aircraft for deportations.
This deportation effort is part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration in the US, where an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants reside.
India’s response to the deportations has yet to be formally issued, but the timing underscores the diplomatic focus on immigration and enforcement issues ahead of Modi’s upcoming visit.
