Record Surge: Over 3,000 Indian Nationals Deported from US in 2025 as Government Addresses Illegal Immigration

A US military aircraft carrying deported Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar, Punjab on February 5.

According to information provided to Parliament by the government on Friday, 3,155 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States as of November 21, 2025.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh clarified in a written response that all deportations require "unambiguous verification" of Indian nationality before proceeding.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) addressed inquiries regarding Indians who entered through the "donkey route" (a term referring to illegal immigration pathways, particularly to North America) and were subsequently deported from the US.

Singh explained that the US government typically deports individuals who have illegally entered the country, overstayed their visa validity, lived without proper documentation, or have criminal convictions. He noted that the Indian government maintains close coordination with US authorities on deportation operations.

The minister provided data on Indian nationals deported from the US over the last three years: 3,155 deportations as of November 21, 2025, compared to 1,368 in 2024 and 617 in 2023, showing a significant increase.

In response to a separate query, Singh mentioned that the MEA does not maintain specific data on trafficking cases to other countries, including through the "donkey route." He added that most foreign countries do not share details about Indian deportees.

Regarding Indian workers imprisoned abroad, Singh stated that Kuwait currently holds 316 Indian prisoners in its jails as of October 31, 2025, according to information shared by Kuwaiti authorities.

The ministry also provided statistics on Haj pilgrims from India who traveled for pilgrimage under the Haj Committee of India: 139,964 pilgrims in 2024, 139,429 in 2023, and 56,634 in 2022.

When asked about new diplomatic missions, Singh reported that in the 2025 fiscal year, India opened one new mission in Quito (Ecuador) and four new consulates in Boston (USA), Los Angeles (USA), Kazan (Russia), and Yekaterinburg (Russia).

The MEA periodically develops proposals for establishing resident missions in countries without Indian diplomatic presence and creates new consulates to improve coverage and services.

Singh emphasized that the government's broad foreign policy vision aims to maximize India's global presence optimally, fostering an environment conducive to India's growth and development through partnerships with friendly nations.

The minister outlined that countries are selected for new Indian missions based on several factors: potential for deepening strategic cooperation, bilateral trade and investment opportunities, significant diaspora presence, enhancement of political outreach in multilateral forums, and signaling India's commitment to increased diplomatic engagement with important countries or regions.

He concluded by stating that the establishment of missions and consulates abroad is determined by India's overall strategic interests, balanced against available financial and human resources.