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A U.S. military aircraft transporting undocumented migrants embarked for India on Monday, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to address illegal immigration, according to a Reuters report citing an anonymous official. The C-17 aircraft, carrying an unspecified number of migrants, is expected to take at least 24 hours to reach its destination.
President Trump has consistently vowed to execute the most extensive deportation operation in U.S. history. In line with this objective, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified nearly 18,000 undocumented Indian nationals among a broader list of 1.5 million individuals targeted for removal. The exact number of passengers aboard the departing flight remains undisclosed.
Data from the Pew Research Centre highlights that approximately 725,000 Indian nationals reside illegally in the United States, positioning India as the third-largest source of unauthorized immigrants, trailing only Mexico and El Salvador. This demographic underscores the complexity of the ongoing immigration enforcement measures.
Last month, New Delhi addressed the issue, affirming its openness to facilitating the lawful return of undocumented Indian citizens. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that India is actively verifying the identities of individuals flagged for deportation by U.S. authorities. However, he noted that the precise number of affected individuals remains uncertain. “With every country, including the U.S., we have maintained that if any of our citizens are found to be residing illegally and their nationality is confirmed, we are prepared to support their legitimate return,” Jaishankar stated.
In January, President Trump expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cooperation regarding the repatriation of Indian nationals who entered the U.S. unlawfully. This sentiment followed a phone conversation between the two leaders, during which they discussed a range of bilateral issues.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has expanded its role in deportation operations, providing military flights to transport over 5,000 immigrants detained by U.S. authorities in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. To date, such flights have repatriated individuals to countries including Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras, reflecting the administration’s broader strategy to address illegal immigration through increased enforcement and international collaboration.
