US Deportations of Indians Hit 16-Year High in 2025
US Deportations of Indians Hit 16-Year High in 2025
India reports 3,258 Indians deported from the US in 2025 — the highest in 16 years, with 18,822 total since 2009, and government vows humane treatment.
The United States has deported 3,258 Indian nationals so far in 2025, the highest tally in 16 years, according to figures shared with Parliament. The total deported since 2009 has reached 18,822, with 3,258 Indians removed between January and November 28. Of these, 2,032 were sent back on regular commercial flights and 1,226 on charter flights operated by ICE or CBP. The government noted that the rise mirrors a crackdown on illegal migration during the Trump administration and emphasized that the figures reflect ongoing enforcement actions across the year.
The government said it has engaged US authorities to ensure humane treatment during deportations, with specific assurances that women and children are not restrained with handcuffs or chains on deportation flights. A protest was lodged after 73-year-old Harjit Kaur was maltreated before deportation in September. Indian officials have also taken action against illegal recruitment agencies and travel agents involved in trafficking, and the National Investigation Agency has set up an anti-human trafficking division, arresting 169 people in 27 cases this year. Two so-called traffickers were arrested in Haryana and Punjab, highlighting a broader push to curb trafficking and ensure due process.
Historical context shows the trajectory of deportations: 734 Indians were deported in 2009, rising to 1,303 in 2016 and 2,042 in 2019. After a dip in 2020-2023, the figure edged up to 1,368 in 2024, with 2025 marking a renewed spike amid policy shifts and enforcement efforts in the United States. The data underscores the ongoing complexities of the India-US migration relationship and the government’s focus on safeguarding its nationals abroad while cooperating with international partners to curb illegal trafficking and unsafe travel practices.
Cover image source: 18,822 Indian nationals deported by US since 2009, 3,258 in 2025: Jaishankar in RS 🔗
