India is open to the repatriation of its undocumented citizens in the USA

NEW DELHI – India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, affirmed that the country is open to the repatriation of Indian citizens residing in the United States without proper documentation.

These remarks came following his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, during which illegal immigration was one of the topics discussed.

Emphasizing that New Delhi has always strongly opposed illegal immigration, he told reporters, “We have always maintained that if any of our citizens are staying here illegally, and if we are convinced they are indeed our nationals, we have always been open to their orderly return to India.”

He added that this stance is consistent with India’s policy towards every country.

Minister Jaishankar made these comments during a press conference in Washington on Wednesday, a day after his meeting with Secretary Rubio.

At the start of his term, President Donald Trump signed executive orders targeting illegal immigration and deporting individuals residing unlawfully in the United States.

Indian nationals constituted the third-largest group of undocumented immigrants in the United States in 2022, ranking behind Mexico and El Salvador, according to the Pew Research Center. It is estimated that their numbers reach approximately 725,000.

Analysts view India’s proactive approach to facilitating the return of its undocumented nationals in the United States as a response to one of the key concerns of the Trump administration, as New Delhi prepares to tackle more complex issues, including trade and tariffs.

“Among a range of issues where differences exist between India and the United States, this is an area where India can demonstrate transparency and proactive efforts, creating more room to maneuver in other domains,” said Harsh Pant, Vice President of the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

“In other areas, such as the economy and trade, fulfilling the Trump administration’s potential demands would be challenging and time-consuming,” he added.

Minister Jaishankar noted that New Delhi is currently verifying the identities of those eligible for deportation, adding that exact numbers of undocumented immigrants remain unclear.

The United States has identified around 18,000 undocumented Indian nationals for repatriation, for whom India will begin the return process, according to Bloomberg reports earlier this week, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The deportation of undocumented Indian nationals from the United States is ongoing – for example, a group of Indian nationals was repatriated from the United States in October.

Minister Jaishankar also expressed support for legal immigration channels.

“As a government, we are naturally strong proponents of legal mobility because we believe in the global labor market. We want talented individuals from India and their skills to have the maximum opportunities globally,” he stated.

The H-1B visa program, which allows highly skilled foreign workers to come to the United States, has been a topic of debate in recent years, with some critics arguing that it negatively impacts American workers.

Supporters of the program argue that skilled workers benefit American companies and employers. Indians, most of whom are professionals working in the tech industry, are among the largest beneficiaries of H-1B visas.

Analyst Pant noted that India has a “greater advantage” when it comes to H-1B visas. “In this area, India also enjoys support from companies in the United States.

Politically, this is a safer issue for India, as there is domestic backing for it,” he said.

Billionaire Elon Musk is among those who have strongly supported the program. President Trump, who previously criticized the program, expressed support for it last month. /VOA

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