The Central government has informed the Parliament that 295 Indian immigrants currently in the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may soon be deported. These individuals have been issued final orders of removal by US authorities.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), along with other relevant agencies, is currently verifying their details before proceeding with further actions.
“The US ICE authorities have recently shared with us information pertaining to 295 individuals who are detained in their custody with final orders of removal from USA. The Ministry, along with other concerned agencies, is currently verifying details for these 295 individuals,” reads the Ministry Of External Affairs (MEA) statement.
Despite these developments, the Indian government has not received any official information from the Donald Trump administration regarding the total number of illegal immigrants of Indian origin in the United States.
Concerns over the treatment of deportees
According to MEA, the Indian government remains concerned about the treatment of deportees, particularly regarding the use of restraints. In a statement, the MEA emphasised its engagement with US authorities to ensure humane treatment during deportation operations. The Ministry strongly protested against the use of shackles on deportees, particularly women, during a deportation flight that landed on February 5.
The US Standard Operating Procedure for deportations, in effect since November 2012, allows the use of restraints on deportees to ensure safety and security. These restraints are typically applied on both chartered and military aircraft. While minors and women are generally exempt from shackling, the final decision lies with the flight officer in charge.
The US side has assured India that no women or children were restrained during deportation flights that landed in India on February 15 and 16. This claim was verified by Indian agencies through interviews with the deportees upon their arrival.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US on February 12-13, 2025, the issue of illegal immigration was a key point of discussion. India reiterated its stance on promoting safe, orderly, and legal migration while actively combating illegal immigration networks. Both nations agreed to cooperate closely in addressing human trafficking and cracking down on criminal facilitators involved in illegal immigration.
Deportation since January 2025
Since the beginning of 2025, a total of 388 Indian nationals have been deported from the US after verification by Indian authorities. Among them, 333 were sent directly from the US, while 55 were deported via Panama on commercial flights.
Opposition leaders have criticised the manner in which deportations have been handled, pointing to video footage showing deportees in shackles and handcuffs upon arrival in India. Three US Army flights landed in Amritsar with these deportees, raising concerns over their treatment and prompting calls for a more humane approach to deportation procedures.