In a significant move reflecting the United States’ intensified immigration enforcement policies, a US military aircraft has deported 205 Indian nationals. The C-17 aircraft departed from San Antonio, Texas, around 3 am IST, marking the first large-scale deportation of Indian illegal immigrants since President Donald Trump’s return to office.
According to a Reuters report, the deportation is part of Trump’s broader policy against illegal immigration, targeting an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the US. The US embassy in Delhi reaffirmed the administration’s stance, stating, “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.”
India has expressed its willingness to accept deported migrants after due verification. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently conveyed this position during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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“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,” Jaishankar said.
President Trump also discussed the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that India is prepared to accept deported individuals. Reports indicate that nearly 20,000 illegal Indian immigrants in the US are slated for deportation, while an estimated 725,000 Indian nationals reside in the country without legal status. Last year, approximately 1,100 Indian migrants were repatriated through special flights.
The Trump administration has increasingly involved the military in immigration enforcement, deploying additional troops to the US-Mexico border, using military facilities to house migrants, and employing military aircraft for deportations. The Pentagon has begun arranging flights for over 5,000 migrants currently detained in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.
While deportation flights operated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are common, the use of military aircraft adds significant costs. Reuters reported that a recent military deportation flight to Guatemala cost approximately $4,675 per migrant. Similar high expenses are anticipated for flights repatriating migrants to India and other countries.
As the crackdown continues, the impact of these policies on US-India relations and the broader immigrant community remains to be seen.
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