India Vows “Strong Crackdown” on Illegal Migration Amid Deportation of 104 Nationals by US
India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, warned of a “strong crackdown” on illegal migration on Thursday, following a U.S. military flight that deported 104 migrants back to India as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration reforms. The move is part of a broader U.S. initiative to address the estimated 11 million undocumented migrants residing in the country.
Since Trump took office on January 20, thousands of undocumented migrants have been arrested across the U.S. as part of his aggressive immigration policy, which includes a series of executive actions aimed at overhauling the immigration system. Jaishankar, addressing parliament, emphasized that it is the responsibility of all nations to take back their citizens if they are found to be living illegally abroad.
The U.S. Border Patrol Chief, Michael W. Banks, described the deportation of the 104 migrants as the “farthest deportation flight yet,” using military transport. A video shared on social media by Banks showed a line of shackled migrants boarding the aircraft.
Jaishankar confirmed that New Delhi is in discussions with the U.S. government to ensure that deported individuals are treated humanely during their flight. He added that deportations are not a new development, as the U.S. has expelled more than 15,000 Indian nationals since 2009, nearly half of whom were deported between 2019 and 2024.
“We must focus on a strong crackdown on the illegal migration industry, while also making efforts to ease the visa process for legitimate travelers,” Jaishankar said. His remarks come as India seeks to balance its efforts to curb illegal migration while advocating for more favorable visa conditions for its skilled workforce, particularly in sectors such as engineering and medicine.
Despite being the world’s fifth-largest economy with robust GDP growth, India continues to see a significant number of its citizens migrate abroad each year in search of better opportunities. The U.S. remains a top destination, especially for India’s highly skilled professionals.
During his presidency, Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both facing criticism for their perceived authoritarian tendencies, developed a strong diplomatic relationship. Modi is widely expected to visit Washington next week for a meeting with Trump, further strengthening ties between the two nations.
