Since Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, deportations of Indian nationals from the United States have seen a significant surge. On average, approximately 8 Indians are deported daily, a stark contrast to the average of 3 per day between January 2020 and December 2024. This increase reflects a broader trend of heightened immigration enforcement under the current administration.
Increased Deportation Numbers
Data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) indicates that between January 2020 and July 2025, 7,244 Indians were deported from the U.S. Nearly a quarter of these deportations, totaling 1,703 individuals, occurred after Trump's second term began. In the first six months of 2025 alone, 1,563 Indian nationals were deported. In comparison, during Joe Biden's presidency (2021-2025), the number of Indians deported was approximately 3,652, nearly half the number deported during Trump's first term.
Methods of Deportation
The rise in deportations coincides with more aggressive enforcement mechanisms. Of the 1,703 deportations in 2025, 864 were carried out via state-arranged charter and military flights. In February 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection repatriated 333 people on three dates using military flights. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 231 individuals via chartered flights on March 19, June 8, and June 25. The use of military planes, as opposed to commercial flights, has drawn criticism.
Reasons for Deportation and Enforcement Policies
The majority of those deported in 2025 had attempted to enter the U.S. illegally. The U.S. government has increased enforcement of immigration laws, emphasizing that illegal entry will lead to detention, deportation, and permanent consequences for future visa eligibility. The U.S. State Department has also stated that visa screenings are continuous, and visas will be revoked if individuals violate U.S. laws and immigration rules.
President Trump's Executive Order 14165, "Securing Our Borders," mandates the deportation of all undocumented immigrants and replaces "catch-and-release" policies with "catch-and-detain" practices. The Laken Riley Act, signed on January 29, 2025, requires the detention of immigrants charged with certain crimes.
Impact and Response
The increase in deportations has sparked debate and concern. The opposition party Indian National Congress criticized the use of military planes and the treatment of deportees, who were often handcuffed and chained. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that the Indian government is working with the U.S. to ensure secure mobility and address illegal immigration.
Demographic Trends
Most of the deportees in 2025 were from Punjab (38%), Haryana (33%), and Gujarat (22%). A Pew Research Center report indicated that as of 2022, India ranked third in the number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S., with approximately 725,000 individuals.
The rise in deportations of Indian nationals reflects a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration, characterized by stricter enforcement and a focus on removing undocumented immigrants.
