Indian deportations from the US have surged dramatically under US President Donald Trump’s second term, with 1,703 sent back in just six months — nearly triple the rate during his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Deportations of Indian nationals from the United States have sharply risen since Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025 — nearly tripling the daily average seen during the Biden administration. According to data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), 1,703 Indians have been deported in just six and a half months this year — roughly eight every day, compared to an average of three per day between January 2020 and December 2024.
This spike accounts for nearly a quarter of all deportations of Indians recorded over the last five and a half years, which total 7,244. The increase coincides with a renewed, aggressive enforcement push under the Trump administration.
On June 26, the US State Department issued a warning to visa holders, stating: “We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules — and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don’t.”
A few days earlier, the US government also issued a blunt message targeting illegal immigrants: “The US has increased enforcement of immigration laws and removal of illegal aliens. Illegal entry will lead to detention, deportation, and permanent consequences for future visa eligibility… Embarking on a costly and dangerous journey will land you in jail or back in your homeland with a permanent mark on your record.”
Of the 1,703 deportations this year, 864 individuals were sent back on charter and military flights arranged by various US agencies. According to the MEA, US Customs and Border Protection repatriated 333 Indians via military flights on February 5, 15, and 16. Another 231 people were deported through ICE charter flights on March 19, June 8, and June 25. The Department of Homeland Security organized the deportation of 300 more Indians on July 5 and 18.
An additional 747 individuals were deported via commercial flights from the US, often individually or in small groups, depending on flight arrangements. Another 72 individuals came through commercial flights from Panama in a similar staggered fashion.
