RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 46
ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025
INDIANS DEPORTED FROM USA
*46#. SHRI RAMJI LAL SUMAN:
Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Indian citizens deported by the United States of America (USA), so far;
(b) whether it is a fact that women have also been deported in handcuffs by the US Government; and
(c) whether the Central Government has identified the people responsible for sending those individuals to the USA through illegal means and if so, the details thereof, along with the action taken against them?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) IN RESPECT OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 46 FOR REPLY ON 04.12.2025 REGARDING ‘INDIANS DEPORTED FROM USA’ BY SHRI RAMJI LAL SUMAN
The U.S. Government usually deports individuals who have, (i) illegally entered the U.S.; (ii) have overstayed their visa validity; (iii) have been found living in the U.S. without any documentation; or (iv) have criminal convictions against them.
Government of India works in close coordination with U.S. authorities on all matters pertaining to deportation of Indian citizens. Such deportations are subject to an unambiguous verification of their Indian nationality.
Since 2009, a total of 18,822 Indian nationals have been deported to India. The year-wise details are placed below.
Table Title
| Year |
No. of Deportees |
|
2009 |
734 |
|
2010 |
799 |
|
2011 |
597 |
|
2012 |
530 |
|
2013 |
515 |
|
2014 |
591 |
|
2015 |
708 |
|
2016 |
1,303 |
|
2017 |
1,024 |
|
2018 |
1,180 |
|
2019 |
2,042 |
|
2020 |
1,889 |
|
2021 |
805 |
|
2022 |
862 |
|
2023 |
617 |
|
2024 |
1,368 |
|
2025 (till 28 Nov) |
3,258 |
|
Total |
18,822 |
Since January 2025, a total of 3,258 Indian nationals have been deported by the United States to India. Of these, 2,032 individuals (approximately 62.3%) were deported on regular commercial flights, while the remaining 1,226 (37.6%) arrived on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operated charter flights.
The Ministry of External Affairs remains engaged with the U.S. side to ensure the humane treatment of deportees during U.S. ICE/CBP deportation operations. The Ministry has strongly registered its concerns with the U.S. authorities on the treatment of deportees, particularly with respect to use of shackles, especially on women and children. No instance of shackling of women and children has been brought to the notice of this Ministry since the 5th February deportation flight.
The U.S. authorities have conveyed that the Restraining Policy for U.S. deportation flights is in place since 19 November 2012 as part of the Standard Operating Procedure of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They have also conveyed that their policy of shackling deportees is followed to ensure the safety and security of all passengers on these flights. In the past, they claim that there have been instances of violence by deportees against fellow deportees and supporting crew members on such deportation flights. While women and minors are generally not shackled, the flight officer in charge of a deportation flight, in the interest of the safety of the mission, has the final say on the matter.
It is also pertinent to note that wanted criminals and gangsters who have been accused of terrorism, homicide, attempt to murder, extortion etc., have also been removed on these deportation flights. In India’s case, absconding criminals such as Lakhwinder Singh and Anmol Bishnoi, against whom lookout notices and arrest warrants have been issued by our law enforcement agencies, have been brought back on such deportation flights.
Based on the accounts and testimonies given by returning deportees, the Central and respective State Governments along with the relevant law enforcement agencies, have registered a number of cases, and investigations as well as actions are ongoing against several illegal immigration agents, criminal facilitators and human trafficking syndicates that run these rackets.
The Government of India accords highest priority to the safety, security, and well-being of Indian nationals abroad and remains engaged with U.S. authorities on addressing illegal immigration and human trafficking.