In 2025, over 2,400 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States, with Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old Sikh woman from Punjab, among the recent returnees. Kaur, who had been residing in the U.S. for nearly three decades, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine check-in and deported shortly thereafter.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that between January 20 and September 25, 2025, U.S. authorities returned a total of 2,417 Indians. The MEA emphasized that India does not support unlawful migration and seeks to create avenues for safe and legal movement of its citizens. Once an individual’s nationality is verified, they are accepted back into India.
Harjit Kaur’s case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by long-term undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Despite living in the country for decades, many such individuals find themselves vulnerable to deportation due to stringent immigration policies.
The Indian government continues to coordinate with U.S. authorities to facilitate the return of its citizens while promoting legal migration pathways and combating illegal migration networks.
