The United States (US) government has deported more than 1,700 Indian nationals since Donald Trump stormed back to power. The Indian government said it has raised concerns with Washington over the treatment of those sent back and delays faced by students in securing student visas.
Between 20 January and 22 July, a total of 1,703 Indian nationals were deported by the US government, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written response on August 1 to a question raised by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi during the Monsoon Session in Parliament.
Among those deported, 1,562 were men and 141 women. The highest number of deportees came from Punjab (620), followed by Haryana (604) and Gujarat (245).
Providing further details on the mode of transportation, the Minister said that 333 Indian nationals were deported via Customs and Border Protection (Military) flights on February 5, 15, and 16.
Indians deported from US
Three charter flights operated by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried 231 deportees in March and June, while 300 were sent back through Department of Homeland Security (DHS) charter flights in July.
Commercial flights from the US brought back 767 deportees. Another 72 deportees, who were stranded in Panama, arrived individually or in small groups when their flight tickets were arranged.
From 2009 to 2024, a total of 15,564 Indian nationals have been deported by the US through chartered and commercial flights, according to the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
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Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the US has ramped up efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, a move that has been scrutinised by the public and governments alike, particularly over the treatment of deportees.
The use of shackles on deportees, especially on women and children, has been taken up with the US, alongside concerns with regard to religious and cultural sensitivities, including the use of turbans and dietary preferences, the Minister said.
Delays in student visas
Since July, students aspiring to pursue higher education in the US have flagged difficulties in obtaining visa appointments — another issue DMK’s Karunanidhi raised.
MoS External Affairs responded that the Indian government has engaged with the US authorities over the matter, and the latter have acknowledged that additional security requirements for student visas have reduced the capacity of the US Embassy and Consulates in India to process visas.
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However, the authorities said the student visa appointments are now open.
For the J-1 physician category, the US has launched a software-based solution to prioritise appointments, and students have subsequently got appointments.
The US Embassy is working to open a limited number of additional student visa appointments through the end of August, before the start of the new academic year, he said.
The embassy is developing a student visa fact sheet with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help reduce uncertainty around delayed appointments.
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The US Department of State tightened vetting procedures after a series of student protests in premier universities over the Israel-Hamas conflict, which rattled the administration.
The matter related to deportation gained further traction in the media in May, after the Trump administration came at loggerheads with the university authorities over these protests, which it claims were ‘anti-semitic,’ while taking measures to restrain their ability to enrol international students.
As a result, the State Department issued a notification in June, saying it would enhance vetting procedures and review social media profiles of student visa applicants, requiring them to make their profiles public.
The minister said the Centre remains engaged with US authorities to promote “mutually advantageous and secure mobility frameworks that allow for streamlining avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals, and facilitating short-term tourist and business travel.”
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According to an Open Doors 2024 report, funded by the US Department of State, Indians surpassed the Chinese as the largest cohort of international students in the US.
Last year, the MEA said 48 Indian students were deported from the US over a three-year period.
Relations between Washington and New Delhi are facing strains after Trump doubled tariffs levied on imports to 50 per cent ostensibly over India’s import of Russian oil.
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was among the all-party delegation sent as part of India’s global outreach against terrorism in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. The MP from Thoothukkudi led the delegation that visited Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain.
