Deportation of Illegal Indian Immigrants: The U.S. has initiated the deportation of approximately 200 Indian nationals who were residing in the country illegally, just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anticipated visit to Washington. This move follows increasing scrutiny and action against illegal immigrants under the Trump administration.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
- Military Aircraft Used: For the first time, a U.S. C-17 military aircraft was used to carry out the deportation, a departure from previous methods. This highlights a more formal and large-scale approach to the deportation process compared to traditional commercial flights.
- Confirmation of Nationality: Indian authorities were involved in verifying the nationality of the deported individuals, ensuring that all were indeed Indian nationals before the U.S. proceeded with the deportation. This step was crucial to avoid any diplomatic misunderstandings.
- Diplomatic Context: This deportation action comes shortly after Prime Minister Modi’s phone call with President Trump, where they discussed cooperation on various global issues, including immigration. Modi and Trump reiterated their commitment to working together on global peace, prosperity, and security.
- Trump’s Tough Stance on Immigration: President Trump has maintained a hardline approach towards illegal immigration, and during his conversation with Modi, he highlighted the need for India to take back illegal immigrants. The deportation action is part of this broader effort to tighten U.S. immigration policies and enforce stricter border controls.
- Current Scope of Illegal Immigration: There are ongoing discussions about the presence of at least 18,000 Indian nationals in the U.S. who are considered illegal immigrants by the Trump administration. These individuals are subject to possible deportation as part of the U.S.’s aggressive stance on curbing illegal migration.
- New Deportation Approach: While deportations of Indian nationals have occurred before, the use of a military aircraft for such operations is a new development. This method is seen as a more organized and efficient way to handle large-scale deportations compared to previous ad hoc methods.
