India to Repatriate 18,000 Undocumented Citizens from US

The move aims to strengthen US-India relations and safeguard legal immigration pathways under Trump's new administration.

India has agreed to repatriate approximately 18,000 of its citizens identified as living in the United States without legal documentation, with the process of verification underway.
The decision is part of India's efforts to maintain strong ties with the Trump administration and avoid potential trade conflicts, including tariff threats from the US.
India hopes its cooperation will help protect access to key US visa programs, such as the H-1B visa for skilled workers, which Indian citizens dominate, accounting for 72% of such visas in 2023.
The Trump administration's renewed focus on immigration enforcement includes measures like ending birthright citizenship and deploying troops to secure the US-Mexico border.
Indian officials highlight the broader goal of creating more legal migration opportunities and addressing illegal migration concerns as part of ongoing bilateral cooperation.