Surge in Deportations: 8 Indians Deported Daily from the US Under Trump | India News
BENGALURU: That deportations of Indians from the US have surged significantly since Donald Trump returned to office in Jan this year is no secret. Now here’s how much more it is when compared to the Biden term and the last year of Trump’s previous term that preceded it: On average, at least 8 Indians were sent back everyday this year, compared to around 3 daily between Jan 2020 and Dec 2024. According to data from the ministry of external affairs (MEA), in the five-and-a-half years between Jan 2020 and July 2025, 7,244 Indians were deported for various reasons, and nearly a quarter of them — 1,703 — were sent back after Trump took office for the second time. This rise also coincides with more aggressive enforcement mechanisms. On June 26, the US state department reminded people that the visa screening doesn’t stop after a visa is issued. “…We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules — and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don’t.”
While this was for legal immigrants, a couple of days before this statement, the US had said: “The US has increased enforcement of immigration laws and removal of illegal aliens. Illegal entry will lead to detention, deportation, and permanent consequences for future visa eligibility…Embarking on a costly and dangerous journey will land you in jail or back in your homeland with a permanent mark on your record.”Of the 1,703 deported this year, 864 deportations occurred through state-arranged charter and military flights, as per MEA. US Customs and Border Protection (military flights) repatriated 333 people across three dates in Feb: 5, 15, and 16. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), through its Enforcement and Removal Operations, deported a total of 231 individuals via chartered flights on March 19, June 8, and June 25. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also carried out deportations via charter flights, sending 300 people back to India on July 5 and 18.
Humane deportation
While 747 individuals were deported via commercial flights from the US — they arrived individually or in small groups, depending on when their flight tickets were arranged — another 72 individuals came through commercial flights from Panama in a similar staggered manner.India doesn’t maintain its own firm estimates of illegal immigration into the US. And so far as consular and deportation exercises are concerned, it relies on information shared by US authorities.The MEA has said that “it remains engaged with US counterparts to ensure deportations are carried out humanely. It has also raised concerns regarding the reported use of shackles, particularly on women and children, and other issues related to cultural and religious sensitivities.”
90% from 5 states
Further, a state-wise analysis of the 1,703 Indian deportations in 2025 so far shows that the trend is heavily skewed towards a few northern states. Punjab topped the list with 620 deportees, closely followed by Haryana with 604 — together accounting for over 70% of all cases. Gujarat was a distant third, with 245 individuals sent back, while Uttar Pradesh and Goa followed with 38 and 26 deportees respectively. These top five states collectively represent more than 90% of all deportations recorded this year.The remaining states and UTs reported far fewer cases. Maharashtra and Delhi had 20 deportees each, Telangana 19, Tamil Nadu 17, and Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand 12 each. Karnataka saw only 5.
