Trump Plans to Deport 18,000 Indians from the U.S. Amidst Tensions

As Donald Trump prepares to take office once again, Indian immigrants in the U.S. face growing uncertainty. Approximately 18,000 Indian nationals, currently living in the U.S. without proper documentation, could soon face deportation. These individuals, lacking U.S. citizenship or the necessary papers for legal status, are among the millions on a list compiled by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

ICE has identified around 1.5 million undocumented immigrants across the country, and Trump has vowed to prioritize their deportation as part of his border security initiative. The focus is on individuals who do not have valid legal status, including a significant number of illegal immigrants from India.

ICE's Focus on Deportation

The U.S. government is intensifying its efforts to deport illegal immigrants, with India included on a list of "uncooperative" nations. These countries, which include India, are accused of hindering the deportation process by refusing to assist in the return of their nationals. According to ICE, India is one of the countries that has been unresponsive in facilitating the return of illegal immigrants to their home countries.

The list of countries resistant to deportation also includes a mix of nations with large immigrant populations in the U.S. Among the nations with significant illegal immigration rates, Mexico and El Salvador lead the pack, followed by India.

The Rising Numbers of Indian Immigrants

The number of illegal Indian immigrants in the U.S. has surged in recent years. In 2023, there were over 700,000 illegal immigrants from India living in the country, making India the third-largest source of undocumented immigrants after Mexico and El Salvador. According to ICE, over 90,000 Indian nationals were apprehended trying to enter the U.S. illegally in the past three years alone. Most of these individuals come from states like Punjab, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.

Trump’s Border Agenda

Trump has made it clear that, upon taking office, his administration will focus heavily on deporting undocumented immigrants. His agenda includes eliminating birthright citizenship, a practice that grants U.S. citizenship to any child born on American soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status.

The Pew Research Center reports that the immigrant population in the U.S. grew by 110% from 1990 to 2017, from 23.3 million to nearly 50 million. This number has slightly decreased to 47.8 million by 2023, but the influx of illegal immigrants remains a contentious issue in U.S. politics.

A Nation of Immigrants and the Challenges Ahead

The debate over immigration continues to be a focal point of U.S. politics, with figures like Trump calling for stricter measures. As the U.S. moves forward with its immigration policies, the lives of millions of immigrants, including 18,000 Indians, hang in the balance.