The United States has deported 3,258 Indian nationals so far in 2024, marking the highest annual figure since 2009, according to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s statement in the Rajya Sabha. Of those deported, 2,032 returned via commercial flights, while 1,226 were repatriated on special chartered flights arranged by US authorities. In comparison, 1,368 Indians were deported in 2024 and 617 in 2023. Data from the Pew Research Center estimates around 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants currently reside in the US, making them the third-largest undocumented group after those from Mexico and El Salvador. The surge in deportations follows the US government’s stricter immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second term, which identified over 18,000 Indians as illegal entrants. The Indian government says it is actively working to curb illegal migration, dismantle human trafficking networks, and assist citizens stranded abroad.