Centre Reports 3,800+ Indians Deported from US in 2025

The Government of India informed the Rajya Sabha that more than 3,800 Indian nationals were deported from the United States during 2025, highlighting the scale of irregular migration and enforcement actions abroad. The figures were shared in a written reply by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh to a question raised by Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala . Official data available up to mid-December showed that 3,414 deportations were processed through Washington, forming the majority of cases, while additional deportations occurred under Indian consular jurisdictions in Houston (234 persons), San Francisco (49), New York (47), and 31 each from Atlanta and Seattle. Deportations were carried out through a combination of commercial flights and US enforcement charter flights, and Indian authorities said repatriation is accepted only after nationality verification, with Emergency Certificates issued when required.

The government said it remains in continuous diplomatic engagement with US authorities to ensure deported Indian nationals are treated in a humane and dignified manner , raising specific concerns over reports of harsh handling of women and children and the use of restraints such as shackles during removal procedures. At the same time, India has intensified its crackdown on illegal migration rackets, often referred to as the “donkey route,” which involve unauthorized and risky pathways used to reach foreign countries. Based on testimonies from returnees, multiple cases have been registered against fraudulent recruitment agents and human trafficking syndicates. By December 2025, authorities had identified 3,505 unauthorised agents nationwide, with their details uploaded to the government’s e-Migrate portal, and investigations are ongoing to dismantle these networks.

Reiterating its focus on migrant safety, the government stressed that overseas employment should be pursued only through registered recruiting agents under the Emigration Act, 1983. Indian citizens holding ECR (Emigration Check Required) passports must obtain mandatory government clearance before travelling for work to specified countries. Authorities are also using social media and official platforms to warn job-seekers about employment scams, fake visa promises, and illegal travel routes that often expose migrants to exploitation and serious danger. Officials noted that increasing deportations reflect stricter immigration enforcement abroad as well as the continued operation of illegal migration networks, and emphasized that legal migration pathways and verified channels remain the safest options for Indians seeking work overseas.