New Delhi/Washington D.C.

Implications for Legal Immigration: There is an looming specter of deportation over nearly 18,000 Indian nationals who are living in the United States illegally. Their documents are now being verified from a list the US authorities sent to India, sources said, adding that their Indian nationality was confirmed and then they would be repatriated.
This initiative aligns with the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on curbing illegal immigration, a cornerstone of its policy agenda. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised the matter with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during a meeting on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for collaboration between the two nations on immigration concerns.
India’s Position on Illegal Immigration
Sources within India’s government reiterated the country’s long-standing policy against illegal immigration. “India has never supported illegal migration. Any individual confirmed to be an Indian citizen and found living illegally in the US will be accepted back, provided their documents are verified,” officials stated.
The issue of illegal migration from India to the US is particularly prevalent in states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, which account for a significant portion of undocumented migrants. The current list of 18,000 individuals may be only the tip of the iceberg, with estimates suggesting the number of Indian illegal immigrants in the US could exceed 200,000.
Implications for Legal Immigration
US officials hinted that a sluggish response on part of India to accept the deported citizens would adversely affect legal immigration ways and means, for example, student visas as well as H-1B work visas. Indian nationals have been the majority group in the H-1B category, accounting for nearly 75% of the total 386,000 visas issued in 2023, according to official US data.
New Delhi has traditionally advocated for streamlined legal immigration, but skill-based legal immigration in particular. Failure to cooperate on irregular migration, however, may strain bilateral diplomatic ties and disrupt the flow of legal migrants.
Trump Administration’s Tough Stance
President Donald Trump, who campaigned on creating a hard stance on illegal immigration, has really increased efforts to deport undocumented people. Actions such as cancelling birthright citizenship and deploying troops to the border with Mexico further point to his administration’s commitment to delivering on campaign promises.
With immigration reform remaining a contentious issue, the collaboration between India and the US will be critical in navigating the complex challenges posed by illegal migration while preserving mutual economic and cultural ties.
As the verification process unfolds, the fate of thousands of Indians in the US hangs in the balance, with significant implications for the broader Indian diaspora and India-US relations.
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