More than 100 Indian migrants were repatriated to their homeland recently as part of the Trump administration's aggressive stance on illegal immigration. A U.S. military plane landed in Amritsar on February 5, 2024, carrying 104 deported Indians, marking the first such flight under this new policy. According to airport officials, this flight is part of the crackdown initiated by the U.S. government, targeting undocumented individuals from various states within India.
The stranded migrants had illegally entered the United States over several years, primarily originating from significant states such as Punjab and Gujarat. India has been collaborating with the U.S., agreeing to accept deportees following proper verification processes. The discussions around these deportations grew more urgent as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Washington soon. During recent conversations, U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted immigration concerns and sought India’s cooperation along with increasing bilateral trade and defense contracts.
According to Randhir Jaiswal, spokesman for India’s External Affairs Ministry, the country is committed to accepting its nationals who may be overstaying or lacking necessary documentation abroad. "If they are Indian nationals... we will take them back, provided documents are shared with us to verify their nationality," he stated.
Federal sources indicate this influx of deportations is part of Trump’s immigration policy, which has included promises of the "largest deportation" initiative seen historically. Trump described undocumented migrants as "criminals" threatening national security, asserting this viewpoint throughout his campaign and during his presidency. Since then, deportations to various Latin American countries have been frequent, and the current focus on India suggests similar strategies will continue.
The Indian government, having expressed its willingness to cooperate with these deportations, insists it is opposed to illegal migration, which it links to organized crime. S. Jaishankar, India's Minister of External Affairs, stated: "We are very firmly opposed to illegal mobility and illegal migration... it is neither desirable nor beneficial." The Indian government has also indicated it will accept all individuals verified as Indian citizens.
The deportation of Indians is occurring amid reports asserting various statistics about undocumented migrants from India. A Pew Research Center analysis from 2022 identified India as having the third-largest population of unauthorized immigrants within the U.S., estimated to be approximately 725,000 individuals. Notably, the government provided figures indicating India received 519 deported nationals between November 2023 and October 2024. This number only scratches the surface as there are other estimates indicating as many as 750,000 Indians may currently be unauthorized migrants residing within the U.S.
The plight of those deported has not gone unnoticed, with many activists and opposition leaders voicing outrage over the way these individuals are treated. Some social media narratives have echoed the humiliation faced by deported nationals as they arrived back home, shackled and handcuffed aboard military aircraft, raising pressing questions about their treatment and the real impact of such policies. Jaspal Singh, 36, recounted: "We were handcuffed and our legs were chained throughout the whole trip. These were only removed upon landing."
Singh, alongside several others who recounted their journeys, articulated the fear, uncertainty, and danger they faced attempting to immigrate. Harwinder Singh, another deportee, elaborated on his harrowing trek stating: "We crossed hills... If someone slipped, there was no chance of survival." Such accounts cast shadows over the narratives circulating about migrants and the underlying motivations fueling their journeys.
According to reports, the U.S. Border Patrol has ramped up arrests along the U.S.-Canada border, significantly increasing enforcement measures impacting Indian nationals. The apprehension of over 14,000 individuals along this border signifies the scale of the issue, which now directly implicates the circumstances under–American immigration policies.
The reaction to the deportations demonstrates diverging viewpoints within India. While the government seems to agree with enforcement actions as necessary for maintaining the country’s reputation, opposition leaders are challenging the government's responses, demanding recognition of the contributions these migrants made within the U.S. economy and advocating for their rights. Many believe the treatment faced by the deportees contradicts the humanitarian aspect of migration and the notion of Indian citizens deserving respect regardless of their documentation status.
Overall, the return of these migrants highlights the tension between domestic policies and the global treatment of migrants, elevates discourse about immigration laws, and calls attention to the pressing realities faced by many families separated due to such policies. The future of Indian nationals facing deportation remains uncertain, as America’s stringent immigration policies appear set to continue, impacting many lives beyond mere documentation.