India has confirmed that more than 1,000 of its nationals have either returned or been deported from the United States since January 2025, amid a renewed crackdown on undocumented immigrants by U.S. authorities.
At a weekly media briefing on Thursday, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal revealed that around 62% of those individuals returned on commercial flights. However, he offered limited details on the exact circumstances of their departures or breakdowns by region or immigration status.
The development follows increasingly stringent immigration enforcement measures under former President Donald Trump, who is currently campaigning for re-election and has repeatedly emphasized the deportation of illegal migrants. Trump previously stated that India “will do what’s right” in accepting deported nationals.
In February, the deportation of more than 100 Indian nationals—some reportedly shackled—on a U.S. military aircraft drew sharp criticism and widespread media coverage. The incident prompted fresh scrutiny of U.S. deportation practices and bilateral coordination mechanisms.
“We have close cooperation between India and the United States on migration issues,” Jaiswal said, stressing that deportation is contingent on verification of the individual’s Indian nationality. “We only take them back after due process.”
According to U.S. immigration officials, an estimated 18,000 Indian nationals are currently believed to be residing in the country illegally.
Adding to the anxiety, the U.S. Embassy in India earlier this month issued a warning that overstaying a U.S. visa—even by legal entrants—could result in deportation or long-term bans on re-entry.
Mr. Jaiswal also addressed growing concerns over the Trump administration’s tightening of student visa policies. The U.S. has temporarily paused new interview appointments for student visas, while weighing stricter screening procedures, including enhanced scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity.
“While we understand that issuing visas is a sovereign prerogative, we hope that applications from Indian students will be assessed fairly and on merit,” Jaiswal said, expressing hope that students would be able to begin their academic programs without delay.
India currently represents the largest cohort of international students in the United States. In the 2023–2024 academic year alone, over 330,000 Indian students enrolled in U.S. universities.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has also announced plans to intensify visa revocations for Chinese students, particularly those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or involved in sensitive technological fields — signaling a broader, more aggressive stance on foreign nationals viewed as potential security risks.
The evolving visa and deportation landscape is being closely watched by migration experts and educational institutions alike, as geopolitical shifts continue to reshape global mobility.
