Overview
- MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said around 2,790 Indians who lacked legal status in the U.S. have returned this year after case-by-case nationality verification.
- Indian authorities also confirmed about 100 deportations from the United Kingdom in 2025 following verification.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 34,146 Indians detained for illegal entry from October 2024 to September 2025, a 62% year-on-year decline.
- The Department of Homeland Security said over 527,000 deportations have occurred since President Donald Trump took office, with more than 2 million total departures including 1.6 million voluntary exits.
- Recent returnees describe costly journeys via the smuggling “donkey route,” prolonged detention and reported use of restraints on deportation flights in earlier cases, intensifying scrutiny of procedures.