US flies back expelled Indian migrants

A US Air Force plane carrying 104 Indian migrants landed in India on Wednesday, as part of the United States' intensified immigration crackdown, local media reported.

An AFP photographer witnessed the military aircraft arriving in Amritsar, a city in northern India. Indian media confirmed the flight was carrying migrants expelled from the US under Trump’s immigration policies.

Since Trump’s January 20 inauguration, US authorities have arrested thousands of undocumented migrants, including some accused of crimes. The Biden-era immigration policies have been replaced with stricter enforcement, with an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants affected.

A US embassy spokesperson in India confirmed that Washington was "vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants." However, neither US nor Indian officials have issued direct statements on the latest deportations.

India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that New Delhi is “firmly opposed to illegal migration”, citing concerns over links to organized crime.

He noted that both countries are working to deter illegal migration while creating more legal pathways for Indian workers to the US.

India remains a major source of migrants seeking better opportunities abroad despite having the world’s fifth-largest economy and a fast-growing GDP. However, the US continues to be the preferred destination for many.

According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), more than 5,000 Indian nationals were deported between 2018 and 2023.

Indian media have speculated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Washington next week for a meeting with Trump. This would reignite diplomatic ties between the two leaders, who previously shared a warm relationship during Trump’s first term.