The United States has conducted a major crackdown on illegal immigration by deporting several Indians on a chartered flight, as confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security on Friday. The deported individuals were found to be staying illegally in the country, with a chartered flight departing for India on 22nd October in coordination with Indian authorities. While the exact number of individuals on the flight was not specified, it is part of a broader effort to enforce immigration laws in the country.
According to the US Customs and Border Patrol, a staggering 90,415 Indians were discovered attempting to enter the US without valid documents between October 2023 and September 2024. Kristie A Canegallo, the acting deputy secretary of DHS, highlighted that Indian nationals without legal permission to stay in the US are subject to swift removal, cautioning against the false promises made by smugglers. The department stressed the importance of repatriation and supporting legal migration pathways to discourage unlawful entry into the country.
Following the introduction of new immigration policies in June 2024 under the Securing the Border Presidential Proclamation, there has been a reported 55% decline in encounters at unauthorised border crossings in the southwest US. In the fiscal year 2024, over 160,000 individuals were deported or returned, with more than 495 repatriation flights to over 145 countries, including India. The Department of Homeland Security continued to collaborate with governments globally to expedite the return of individuals without legal permission to stay in the US, as part of efforts to combat irregular migration and transnational smuggling operations.
The US has deported individuals from various countries such as Colombia, Egypt, Peru, and China over the past year under its ongoing enforcement measures to tackle illegal immigration. The focus remains on upholding immigration laws, promoting legal migration routes, and ensuring the swift return of individuals found to be illegally staying in the country to reduce irregular migration and counter smuggling activities.