India has reaffirmed its stance against illegal immigration and agreed to take back deported individuals from the US if their Indian nationality is confirmed, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This comes as US President Donald Trump’s administration reportedly plans to deport around 18,000 Indians residing illegally in the United States.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised on Friday that illegal immigration is linked to organised crime and reiterated India’s commitment to verifying and accepting deported citizens.
"We will take back Indians from the US or any other country if proper documents are provided to confirm their nationality," Jaiswal stated during a press briefing.
Jaiswal also dismissed the reported figures as premature and mentioned that the issue was discussed during talks between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week. The meeting marked Rubio’s first bilateral engagement following the Quad summit, held shortly after Trump’s inauguration.
The Trump administration has prioritised immigration reform, with steps like ending birthright citizenship for children of temporary visa holders or non-citizens. Deportation has become a focal point of US domestic policy, with 538 illegal immigrants reportedly arrested since Trump’s second term began on January 20.
According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the US as of 2022, making them the third-largest group of undocumented immigrants, after individuals from Mexico and El Salvador.
Deportations of Indians, however, are not new. Under the previous Biden administration, around 1,100 Indians were repatriated in 2024, including 100 individuals flown back to Punjab on a chartered flight.
Rising attempts to migrate illegally have contributed to an increase in deportations, with US authorities intercepting over 90,000 Indian nationals in 2024 alone.
Also Read: India opposes illegal immigration, vows to take back citizens
India raises security concerns with the US
During the press briefing, Jaiswal also addressed India’s concerns over activities deemed harmful to its national security. He mentioned India’s objection to the presence of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist and founder of the banned group Sikhs for Justice, at a Trump inauguration-related event.
“Whenever anti-India activities occur, we raise the matter with the US government. We will continue to address issues that affect our national security or promote an anti-India agenda,” Jaiswal said.
Pannun reportedly raised anti-India slogans at the January 20 event, prompting further diplomatic discussions between the two nations.
As India-US ties remain critical in addressing issues like illegal immigration and national security, both sides have signaled their willingness to collaborate on advancing economic relations and tackling irregular migration.
Also Read: Drones, spotters in place for R-Day security in Kashmir
Follow us
