In a bid to strengthen ties with the United States and secure legal immigration pathways, the Indian government is set to repatriate around 18,000 undocumented Indian immigrants residing in the U.S. This move aims to address concerns raised by the U.S. administration while safeguarding crucial visa programs, including the H-1B visa, which plays a pivotal role for skilled Indian professionals.
Recent high-level talks between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar focused on tackling irregular migration. India has pledged its full cooperation in identifying and repatriating its citizens who are living in the U.S. without proper documentation.
According to data from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of November 2024, nearly 17,940 Indians are under final deportation orders, with an additional 2,467 in detention. This makes Indians the fourth-largest group in ICE custody by nationality.
Through this collaboration, India hopes to preserve legal migration channels for its citizens, particularly for students and skilled workers, ensuring a stable future for Indo-U.S. relations.
