The United States has deported Indian migrants using a C-17 military aircraft, marking the first such instance since Donald Trump’s return to office. A US official told Reuters that the plane had departed but would take over 24 hours to reach India.
The Trump administration has enlisted the US military to support its immigration policies, deploying additional troops to the US-Mexico border, using military aircraft for deportations, and opening military bases to house migrants. Deportation flights have previously transported illegal migrants to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras, but India is now the farthest destination covered.
During discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Trump emphasized India’s responsibility in repatriating illegal migrants. The White House described their conversation as “productive,” focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation.
Similarly, Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised concerns over “irregular immigration” with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who reaffirmed India’s opposition to illegal immigration.
Jaishankar noted that such activities often lead to additional legal issues and stated that India is open to accepting its verified citizens back.
According to an HT report, over 1,100 illegal Indian immigrants were deported from the US between October 2023 and September 2024.
Royce Murray, Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy at the Department of Homeland Security, previously highlighted a “steady increase” in such deportations.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has termed these deportations as part of a “regular consular dialogue” with the US. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that discussions on immigration and mobility remain ongoing between the two nations.
