In the past two weeks, three flights from the US embarked on their journey to Amritsar, filled with deported Indian illegal immigrants. Since Donald Trump took office, 332 Indians have been deported in total. According to an April 2024 report by the Department of Homeland Security, there are 220,000 illegal Indians residing in the United States, and more are expected to be deported in the near future.
When asked about the number of illegal Indian immigrants in America, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that the Indian government lacks exact statistics on such individuals because they might have left India legally but overstayed their visas or entered the US without proper documentation.
How Many Illegal Indian Immigrants in the US?
A report from the Department of Homeland Security reveals that in 2022, there were 11 million people living as illegal immigrants in the US, predominantly hailing from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Looking at India, the illegal immigrant population decreased from 480,000 in 2018 to 220,000 in 2022, a reduction of 54%.
Source: aajtak
Major Indian 'Home Returns' in 2020
According to ICE statistics, responsible for deportations, over the last decade an average of over 200,000 illegal immigrants have been deported annually to their respective countries. By examining data across nations, it becomes evident that Indians have also been part of this execution. For example, 359 Indians were sent back in 2014. The number increased to 460 in 2017 and to 1,616 in 2019. The highest recorded deportations occurred in 2020 when 2,312 Indians were sent back home.
Read Also: Complete Dunky Route to America from Punjab, Indians Dream of Becoming 'Americans' through 10 Nations
In subsequent years, the number of deportations saw a drastic decline. In 2021, 292 and in 2022, 276 Indians were deported. This could be attributed to the pandemic. However, the trend reverted in 2024 with 1,529 Indians being deported.
Source: aajtak
25,000 Indians Detained
Over the last four years, ICE has detained nearly a million immigrants, including about 25,000 Indians. The number of detained Indians peaked at 9,207 in 2022, up from 1,835 in 2021, and then decreased in 2023 and 2024. Due to the proximity to the Mexican border, the Phoenix area in Arizona recorded the most significant number of Indian detainees, with over 12,000 in immigration custody from 2021 to 2024. New Orleans ranked second with 2,434 detentions.
Over 3,000 Arrests
Between 2021 and 2024, US authorities arrested around half a million illegal immigrants. In this period, the number of Indian nationals arrested was (3,488), which remained relatively low. At a joint press conference with President Trump on February 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that people residing illegally in other countries have no legal claim to stay. Following a conversation with PM Modi, Trump stated that India will manage its illegal immigrant issue effectively.
Following the return of 332 Indians, concerns were raised regarding how deportees are treated. A video from Amritsar Airport revealed deported Sikhs completing immigration formalities without wearing turbans, which sparked outrage. On February 11, several opposition members brought up this issue in the Lok Sabha, criticizing the US's treatment of undocumented Indian migrants.
