Fourth Batch of 12 Indian Immigrants Deported from the US Arrives in Delhi

New Delhi – A fourth batch of Indian immigrants deported from the United States arrived in Delhi on Friday, as part of the ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrants under US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, officials confirmed.

The group of 12 deportees, who were previously detained in Panama, was flown back to India. Among them, four individuals were residents of Amritsar, Punjab, and have since returned to their hometowns, sources added.

Escalating Deportations from the US

This latest deportation follows previous batches, including a significant first-round removal on February 5, when 104 Indians were repatriated to Amritsar on a US military flight.

The Indian government, led by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, has emphasized that deportations are not a new phenomenon and have been ongoing for years. However, he assured that India has been actively engaging with US authorities to ensure deportees are treated with dignity and not subjected to mistreatment.

Panama’s Role as a Transit Hub

A growing number of Indian immigrants deported under the Trump administration's policies are currently being held in Panama, which has emerged as a transit hub for deportation processes. Reports suggest that around 300 individuals remain confined in a hotel, awaiting repatriation.

While some 40% of the detainees have refused voluntary repatriation, United Nations agencies are exploring alternative solutions for those unwilling to return.

The situation has raised human rights concerns, as critics argue that prolonged confinement in transit countries could violate international norms on migrant rights. Meanwhile, the US is covering repatriation costs while continuing to push for mass deportations of undocumented individuals.

Trump’s Stance on Immigration and Deportation

President Donald Trump has made large-scale deportations a cornerstone of his immigration policy, defending the removals as part of efforts to "drain the swamp" and remove individuals he claims entered the US illegally.

"We are sending home fraudsters, cheaters, and those who have no legal right to stay in America," Trump stated in a recent speech.

According to data from the Pew Research Center, as of 2022, unauthorized immigrants made up 3.3% of the total US population and accounted for 23% of all foreign-born residents.

Deportation of Migrant Children Sparks Outrage

In a controversial move, the Trump administration has also directed US immigration agencies to track down and deport migrant children who entered the country as unaccompanied minors, according to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) memo reportedly outlines a four-phase plan aimed at locating and deporting hundreds of thousands of minors who crossed the US-Mexico border since 2019.

Government figures indicate that over 600,000 unaccompanied minors have entered the US illegally over the past five years. With border crossings reaching record levels, the latest deportation efforts are expected to widen the scope of enforcement operations in the coming months.

India’s Response and Future Implications

The Indian government has assured that it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue discussions with the US administration to ensure that Indian nationals affected by these deportations are treated fairly.

As deportation numbers continue to rise, there is growing pressure on both India and the US to reassess policies affecting migrant workers and undocumented immigrants, particularly in the wake of heightened enforcement measures under Trump’s second term in office.