A U.S. military transport aircraft is deporting migrants to India, marking the first such flight since the U.S. administration began repatriating illegal migrants in line with President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to Reuters on Monday, confirmed that a C-17 aircraft had departed for India with migrants on board, though it would take at least 24 hours to arrive. No further details were provided.
Indian officials have not commented on the development, and the exact number of deportees remains unknown. The C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft can accommodate up to 130 passengers.
A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy declined to disclose specifics about the flight, stating, “The United States is rigorously enforcing its borders, tightening immigration laws, and deporting illegal migrants. This sends a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk.”
According to Reuters, India is the farthest destination for the Trump administration’s military deportation flights. Trump has increasingly relied on the U.S. military to execute his immigration policies, including deploying additional troops to the southern border with Mexico, using military aircraft for deportations, and repurposing military bases to house migrants.
The Pentagon has facilitated the deportation of over 5,000 migrants detained in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. Military aircraft have previously transported migrants to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras.
In one instance, Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially barred two U.S. military planes carrying deported Colombians from landing but later relented after Trump threatened trade tariffs on Colombian exports to the U.S.
An American official disclosed that over 1,100 illegal Indian migrants were deported between October 2023 and September 2024. The last publicly known U.S. deportation flight carrying Indian nationals took place on October 22, repatriating about 100 individuals via a charter flight.
The U.S. has seen a “steady increase” in the deportation of illegal Indian migrants in recent years, the official noted during a virtual briefing last year.
India has expressed willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on addressing illegal immigration, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated last month that India opposes illegal migration due to its connections with organized crime and will repatriate all undocumented Indian nationals after verifying their identity.
While Jaiswal refrained from commenting on the exact number of illegal Indian immigrants in the U.S., he assured that India would take necessary steps to facilitate their return. Sources familiar with the situation, speaking anonymously, indicated that U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates suggest there are approximately 18,000 illegal Indian migrants in the U.S.
Deporting migrants via military flights is costly. Reuters reported that a recent deportation flight to Guatemala cost around $4,675 per migrant. A senior American official emphasized the need to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal migration and the exploitation of migrants by unscrupulous travel agencies.
The U.S. is strengthening its collaboration with the Indian government to tackle this issue and has received “very positive” cooperation from New Delhi, according to Royce Bernstein Murray, Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy.
“In the fiscal year 2024, which ended in September, the U.S. repatriated over 1,100 Indian nationals. This is part of a growing trend in removals of Indian migrants over recent years,” Murray said.
Regarding the October 22 charter flight, she noted that such flights typically carry over 100 individuals and described the operation as “smooth,” highlighting “excellent cooperation from the Indian government.”
Murray did not specify the total number of charter flights deporting Indian migrants last fiscal year but mentioned that some individuals were also repatriated via commercial flights. She pointed out that while illegal migration from India is less frequent than from neighboring American countries, it remains a concern.
“We continue to strengthen our partnership with the Indian government to address issues such as human smuggling and fraudulent travel agencies that prey on vulnerable migrants,” she said.
Anonymous sources confirmed that India has been cooperating with the U.S. on this matter, emphasizing that both nations prioritize curbing illegal migration. “We want individuals to travel abroad for work or education through legal channels. This is a challenge not just with the U.S. but with many other countries as well,” said one source.
Murray acknowledged the need for greater public awareness regarding the consequences of illegal migration. “We must enhance our messaging to ensure people have accurate information about legal pathways to the U.S. and the risks of irregular migration,” she stated.
Efforts must also focus on protecting young individuals who aspire to study in the U.S., ensuring they receive reliable information about student visas and legal migration options.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently conducted a “charter removal flight” to repatriate an unspecified number of Indian nationals who failed to establish a legal basis to stay in the U.S., according to an official statement from the U.S. embassy.
The statement did not disclose the number of deported Indian nationals on the October 22 flight. However, sources indicated that the deportation resulted from ongoing U.S.-India cooperation to combat illegal migration.
“On October 22, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted a large-frame charter removal flight to India, repatriating Indian nationals who lacked a legal basis to remain in the United States,” the statement read.
