The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deported a large number of Indian nationals who did not have the necessary permits and documents to reside in the country.
The Indian nationals were returned to India on a chartered flight on October 22, the department said in a statement.
“On October 22, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted a large-scale charter flight to the Republic of India to deport nationals Indians who had not established a legal basis to stay. in the United States,” the statement said.
According to the release, this decision demonstrates DHS’s continued commitment to security and continued collaboration with the Government of India and other foreign partners to reduce and deter irregular migration and cooperatively combat human trafficking. human beings.
Kristie Canegallo, a senior official serving as deputy secretary of Homeland Security, said Indian nationals, who do not have a legitimate reason to remain in the United States, are “subject to expeditious removal, and future Migrants should not fall for lies.” smugglers who proclaim the opposite.
DHS said it still enforces U.S. immigration rules and that those who enter the country illegally will face heavy penalties.
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Additionally, it also involves quickly returning people without a legal basis to remain in the United States, while encouraging the use of legal avenues, he added.
DHS has deported people of several nationalities, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Uzbekistan, the PRC and India, over the past year.
As a result of these efforts, the department expelled or removed more people in FY24 than in any other year since FY2010, the agency said.
The United States has expelled/returned more than 160,000 people
DHS has conducted more than 495 repatriation flights to more than 145 countries, including India. The US government agency has also expelled or returned more than 160,000 people since June 2024.
A total of 25,616 Indians attempted to cross the border from Mexico into the southern United States between October 2023 and September 2024. During this time, 43,764 Indians attempted to cross the border from Canada.
Additionally, other Indians most likely overstayed their visas or flew to US airports.
Over the past two years, more than 1,86,000 Indians have attempted to enter the United States illegally, according to US authorities.
(With contribution from agencies)