The US had earlier identified around 18,000 illegal migrants to be deported to India, with the majority believed to be from Punjab and Gujarat. It had also noted that the actual number could be higher, as the total population of undocumented Indian migrants in the US remains unclear.Data from the Pew Research Center estimates that approximately 725,000 illegal immigrants from India live in the US, making it the third-largest group of unauthorized immigrants after Mexico and El Salvador.Many people from Punjab, who entered the US through “donkey routes” or other illegal means by spending lakhs of rupees, now face deportation.According to US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP), about 1,700 Indians were apprehended between 2022 and November 2024.In 2022, 409 were intercepted, 730 in 2023, and 517 in 2024 until November, including 42 minors. The mass deportations are a key part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration policy, which has focused on stricter enforcement and the removal of undocumented individuals.Last week, the US President said he discussed immigration with PM Narendra Modi and added that India would “do what is right” in handling the return of “illegal immigrants.”Similarly, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had previously stated that New Delhi is open to the “legitimate return” of Indian nationals living illegally abroad, including in the US. Jaishankar had told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that India was ready to accept these migrants after verification. He also mentioned that India was in the process of verifying the identities of those potentially eligible for deportation, though the exact number remains undetermined.In this regard, the Ministry of External Affairs stated on January 24 that it would facilitate the return of Indian nationals “overstaying” or residing without proper documentation in the US or “anywhere in the world.”
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