In a significant move by the United States, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has compiled a list of approximately 1.5 million individuals set for deportation.
This list includes nearly 18,000 undocumented Indian nationals, making it a major part of President-elect Donald Trump's plan for the largest deportation operation in American history.
Trump, who is due to take office on January 20, 2025, has pledged to ramp up efforts to address illegal immigration. His administration aims to carry out sweeping deportations, a move that could affect millions of undocumented immigrants, including a large number of Indian nationals living in the country illegally.
According to recent data released by ICE, a total of 17,940 Indians are now part of the deportation list. These individuals are among the nearly 1.5 million non-detained persons in the United States who have final removal orders.
The Indian community is notably significant within the broader context of undocumented immigrants in the US. With an estimated 725,000 undocumented Indians, the country represents the third-largest population of unauthorised immigrants, following Mexico and El Salvador.
The ongoing issue of illegal immigration has prompted a series of actions, including deportation flights. One such flight, a chartered operation from the US to India, took place on October 22, 2024. This flight was organised in collaboration with the Indian government as part of a continued effort to address the situation.
The plight of undocumented Indian nationals in the US is a pressing concern, with many facing long delays in their efforts to regularise their immigration status. For some, the wait for a resolution could extend for years.
Over the past three financial years, the US Border Patrol apprehended an average of 90,000 Indians attempting to cross the US border illegally. Despite this, the situation is exacerbated by the bureaucratic hurdles in securing legal status, with many struggling to navigate the complex immigration system.
On a broader scale, ICE’s deportation priorities also involve nationals from other countries. Honduras, with over 260,000 undocumented immigrants, leads the list, followed by Guatemala, Mexico, and El Salvador.
However, it is the classification of India as an “uncooperative” country that has drawn attention. ICE has raised concerns about delays in coordination from Indian authorities regarding the return of nationals.
The agency cited issues such as slow processing of citizenship verification, the delay in issuing travel documents, and the reluctance of some governments to accept the return of their nationals.
The US has indicated that such delays might lead to countries being categorised as "uncooperative", which could have far-reaching implications for both the immigrants affected and the countries involved.
India, along with other nations such as Bhutan, Burma, Cuba, and several others, has been flagged by ICE as uncooperative. As a result, ICE has urged these countries to take appropriate steps to facilitate the swift return of their citizens.
The agency also emphasised the importance of issuing travel documents and ensuring that deportations are handled in line with agreed-upon guidelines.
The US government's stance on uncooperative nations reflects a growing frustration over the lack of progress in repatriating undocumented individuals.
It remains to be seen how these diplomatic issues will be resolved and whether countries like India will be able to expedite the processes necessary to comply with US immigration policies.
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