India strengthens efforts to repatriate illegal immigrants, ensures safer returns
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has emphasized India’s proactive approach in ensuring the safe repatriation of illegal Indian immigrants, as opposition voices raise concerns over recent US deportations.
Highlighting data on deportations since 2009, Jaishankar stated that US authorities follow standard procedures set in 2012. He stressed the need to crack down on human smuggling networks rather than focusing solely on deportation numbers.
Since 2014, India has actively worked to facilitate the safe return of undocumented citizens. In 2015, Kuwait deported 1,700 Indians for visa violations, while over 141,000 workers left Saudi Arabia under an amnesty program in 2013. India’s diplomatic efforts have ensured fair treatment and humane repatriation of its citizens globally.
The Indian government has engaged closely with the US on migration issues, especially after former President Donald Trump’s 2017 executive order on immigration enforcement. Between 2017 and 2022, Indian missions issued over 132,000 Emergency Certificates to citizens facing deportation.
Recent US data shows that 519 Indian nationals were deported between November 2023 and October 2024. As part of India-US cooperation on migration and mobility, both nations continue working to prevent illegal immigration while expanding legal migration opportunities.
