US Sees Surge in Deportations of Indian Nationals in 2024

The US repatriated over 1,100 Indian nationals in fiscal year 2024, marking an increase in deportations. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE coordinate these efforts. The deportations underscore US-India cooperation on migration, with legal consequences for unlawful US entry highlighted by officials.

The United States reported a significant increase in the deportation of Indian nationals, repatriating over 1,100 individuals in fiscal year 2024, which ended in September. This trend reflects the overall rise in encounters with Indian migrants, according to US Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy Royce Bernstein Murray.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), particularly through its agency, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), plays a crucial role in executing these deportations. Murray noted that ICE recently carried out another charter removal flight for Indian nationals lacking legal status to stay in the US.

These charter flights exemplify ongoing cooperation between the US and India, aiming to reduce irregular migration and combat human smuggling. Murray emphasized the legal consequences of unlawful entry into the US, which include deportation, a re-entry ban, and possible prosecution. She also noted the lack of detailed data on the origins of deported Indian nationals, with some flights merely deplaning in Punjab.

(With inputs from agencies.)