India To Bring Back 18,000 Nationals From The US: A Modi Govt's Strategy To Appease Donald Trump

India is ready to collaborate with Donald Trump's administration to identify and repatriate its citizens living illegally in the United States. This move signals New Delhi's intent to cooperate with the new American leadership and avert potential trade conflicts. The US has identified approximately 18,000 illegal Indian migrants for deportation, a process that India will verify and initiate.

Illegal Migration Concerns

The actual number of undocumented Indian migrants in the US might be significantly higher. The exact figures remain uncertain due to the clandestine nature of illegal migration.

A significant portion of these undocumented migrants reportedly hail from western India, particularly Punjab and Gujarat. These states are believed to contribute a large share of the Indian population living without legal status in the US. This demographic insight highlights regional trends in migration patterns.

India, like many other countries, is discreetly working to placate the Trump administration. The goal is to mitigate any adverse effects stemming from Trump's aggressive trade policies. By showing willingness to address illegal migration issues, India aims to maintain favourable diplomatic relations with the US.

Trump's campaign prominently featured a promise to crack down on illegal immigration. Shortly after taking office, he began implementing measures such as ending birthright citizenship and deploying troops along the US-Mexico border. These actions underscore his commitment to fulfilling campaign pledges related to immigration control.

What Is India's Strategy Behind The Move

India seeks the Trump administration's support in safeguarding legal immigration pathways for its citizens, particularly student visas and the H-1B program for skilled workers. Indian nationals made up nearly 75% of the 386,000 H-1B visas issued in 2023, Times of India reported citing official statistics.

Failure to repatriate illegal US migrants could impact India's labor and mobility agreements with other nations, according to sources familiar with the matter. Facing domestic job shortages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has inked migration pacts with countries such as Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Israel in recent years.

Although Indian nationals account for just 3% of unlawful US border crossings in fiscal 2024, primarily from Latin America, their numbers have grown steadily. At the northern US border, Indians represent nearly a quarter of all illegal crossings, the highest share of migrants apprehended at that entry point.

The total number of unauthorized Indian immigrants in the US remains unclear, but the Department of Homeland Security estimated 220,000 as of 2022. Repatriating illegal migrants could also help Modi curb overseas secessionist movements, including the Khalistan movement, which advocates for a separate Sikh state. Indian authorities believe some supporters of this movement in the US and Canada are illegal migrants.

India's proactive stance on repatriating its citizens aligns with broader efforts to maintain amicable ties with the US. By addressing concerns over illegal migration, India seeks to avoid potential economic repercussions while fostering cooperation with Trump's administration.