President-elect Donald Trump has committed to executing the most extensive deportation initiative in US history once he takes office on January 20, 2025. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified approximately 1. 5 million individuals targeted for deportation, which comprises nearly 18,000 undocumented citizens from India. These individuals are part of ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders, placing them at imminent risk of deportation.
Data released in November 2024 reveals that of the estimated 725,000 unauthorized Indian immigrants in the US, 17,940 are facing immediate deportation. Based on information from the Pew Research Center, India ranks as the third-largest source of undocumented immigrants in the US, following Mexico and El Salvador.
In October, the US repatriated several Indian nationals via a chartered flight arranged in partnership with the Indian government. This deportation flight on October 22 highlights the persistent challenges endured by numerous undocumented Indians attempting to regularize their status, as many have been waiting for ICE clearances for years. Simultaneously, an average of 90,000 Indians have been apprehended annually over the past three years for trying to cross US borders illegally.
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Honduras tops ICE’s deportation roster with 261,651 undocumented individuals, succeeded by Guatemala, Mexico, and El Salvador.
US Labels India as ‘Uncooperative’
ICE has labeled India as “uncooperative” because of delays in collaboration. The agency emphasized that verifying the citizenship of deportees and promptly issuing travel documents are vital elements of the deportation process.
“Conducting interviews, issuing travel documents promptly, and accepting the physical return of their nationals by scheduled commercial or charter flights consistent with ICE and/or foreign government removal guidelines,” the ICE document stated.
Fifteen countries, including India, China, Pakistan, and Russia, are categorized as uncooperative or at risk of failing to comply with deportation procedures.
