Why Are Indians being Deported from America?

Since beginning his second term as US President, Donald Trump has begun implementing his hardline policy on illegal immigration, which includes deporting Indians.

India and the US identified approximately 18,000 Indian nationals who may face deportation in the coming months.

Over 100 Indian migrants returned to their homeland via a US military aircraft.

The C-17 Globemaster departed Texas on February 4, 2025, and arrived in Amritsar the next day.

An official said: “The current move indicates a tougher stance, with military aircraft now being used instead of commercial options for these operations.”

President Trump recently said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would cooperate in taking back its illegal migrants.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also reiterated that India remains open to the “legitimate return” of its citizens living illegally in the US.

The first batch of Indian deportees returned just ahead of a potential visit by Prime Minister Modi to the US.

But why are Indians being deported from America?

Despite India and the US sharing good diplomatic relations, the deportations come in line with Trump’s promise to crack down on illegal immigration.

But according to Punjab’s NRI Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, many Indians had entered the United States on work permits which eventually expired, making them illegal immigrants.

Urging Narendra Modi to speak to Trump about the matter, Dhaliwal said:

“We all know that PM Modi used to say that ‘Trump is my friend’. He even campaigned for Trump during the 2019 US elections.

“These are international issues and can be discussed and resolved at that level.

“I urge PM Modi that the sword of deportation and jail is hanging on the heads of many Indians and he should hold their hands.

“He should sit with Trump and find a solution to this issue.”

Reasons for the Deportations

According to the Pew Research Centre, there are over 725,000 Indian migrants living illegally in the United States.

This is the third most of any country, after Mexico and El Salvador.

Most of the illegal immigrants are from Punjab and the state government has made arrangements for the returnees.

It has also urged citizens not to travel abroad via illegal means.

One reason why Indians are being deported from America is because many attempted to cross the border illegally via Mexico or Canada without the correct documentation.

A lot of Indians entered the country legally on certain visas, however, they exceeded their stay.

The surge in deportations is due to the United States’ enforcement of immigration laws.

But Indians being deported from America is not new.

Between October 2023 and September 2024, more than 1,100 Indian migrants were deported via chartered flights.

Given that over 100 Indians have been deported so far in 2025 and Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, the rate of deportation flights is expected to increase.

How Much did the Deportation Flight Cost?

When it comes to costs, the C-17 Globemaster has high costs in comparison to even first-class and chartered flights.

A deportation of 64 migrants to Guatemala on the same aircraft cost $4,675 (£3,700) per migrant, nearly five times the price of a standard first-class ticket.

The flight took around 10 and a half hours and this excluded any ground time or time taken to prepare for takeoff.

This flight to Guatemala cost $28,500 (£22,900) per hour.

Based on this figure and given that the flight from San Antonio to Amritsar takes more than 19 hours, the deportation flight is estimated to have cost over $540,000 (£435,000).

This equates to around $5,200 (£4,190) per deportee.

Typically, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) typically uses chartered planes such as Boeing 737s or McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series aircraft for deportations, where costs are significantly lower.

A Shattered American Dream

Back home, the deportees shared how they risked everything to reach the US through the treacherous ‘Donkey’ route—a journey fraught with danger, deceit, and exploitation by human traffickers.

One person named Jaspal said he was scammed by a travel agent as he was promised that he would be sent to the US legally.

He said: “I had asked the agent to send me through a proper visa. But he deceived me.”

Jaspal arrived in Brazil in July 2024 and was promised his journey to the US would also be by air. However, he was “cheated” by his agent, who forced him to cross the border illegally.

He ended up being arrested by US Border Patrol before it was announced he would be deported, something he didn’t know.

Jaspal added: “We thought we were being taken to another camp. Then a police officer told us that they were being taken to India.

“We were handcuffed and our legs were chained. These were opened at the Amritsar airport.”

A deportee from Punjab described the perilous ‘donkey route’ they took to reach the US, revealing how belongings worth Rs. 30,000-35,000 (£275-£320) were stolen along the way.

The journey began in Italy and continued through Latin America, including a 15-hour boat ride and a 40-45 km trek across 17-18 hills.

Recounting how injured travellers were abandoned and dead bodies were a grim part of the journey, he said: “One slip could be fatal.”

With the cost of deportation rising and an increasing number of Indian nationals targeted for removal, this issue is likely to remain in focus in both countries’ diplomatic discussions.