1,700 Indians deported under Trump 2.0; Govt flags treatment of returnees, visa delays for students
Among those deported, 1,562 were men and 141 women. The highest number of deportees came from Punjab (620), followed by Haryana (604) and Gujarat (245).
Providing further details on the mode of transportation, the Minister said that 333 Indian nationals were deported via Customs and Border Protection (Military) flights on February 5, 15, and 16.
Three charter flights operated by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried 231 deportees in March and June, while 300 were sent back through Department of Homeland Security (DHS) charter flights in July.
Commercial flights from the US brought back 767 deportees. Another 72 deportees, who were stranded in Panama, arrived individually or in small groups when their flight tickets were arranged.
From 2009 to 2024, a total of 15,564 Indian nationals have been deported by the US through chartered and commercial flights, according to the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the US has ramped up efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, a move that has been scrutinised by the public and governments alike, particularly over the treatment of deportees.
The use of shackles on deportees, especially on women and children, has been taken up with the US, alongside concerns with regard to religious and cultural sensitivities, including the use of turbans and dietary preferences, the Minister said.
Since July, students aspiring to pursue higher education in the US have flagged difficulties in obtaining visa appointments — another issue DMK's Karunanidhi raised.
MoS External Affairs responded that the Indian government has engaged with the US authorities over the matter, and the latter have acknowledged that additional security requirements for student visas have reduced the capacity of the US Embassy and Consulates in India to process visas.
However, the authorities said the student visa appointments are now open.
For the J-1 physician category, the US has launched a software-based solution to prioritise appointments, and students have subsequently got appointments.
The US Embassy is working to open a limited number of additional student visa appointments through the end of August, before the start of the new academic year, he said.
The embassy is developing a student visa fact sheet with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help reduce uncertainty around delayed appointments.
The US Department of State tightened vetting procedures after a series of student protests in premier universities over the Israel-Hamas conflict, which rattled the administration.
The matter related to deportation gained further traction in the media in May, after the Trump administration came at loggerheads with the university authorities over these protests, which it claims were 'anti-semitic,' while taking measures to restrain their ability to enrol international students.
As a result, the State Department issued a notification in June, saying it would enhance vetting procedures and review social media profiles of student visa applicants, requiring them to make their profiles public.
The minister said the Centre remains engaged with US authorities to promote 'mutually advantageous and secure mobility frameworks that allow for streamlining avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals, and facilitating short-term tourist and business travel.'
According to an Open Doors 2024 report, funded by the US Department of State, Indians surpassed the Chinese as the largest cohort of international students in the US.
Last year, the MEA said 48 Indian students were deported from the US over a three-year period.
Relations between Washington and New Delhi are facing strains after Trump doubled tariffs levied on imports to 50 per cent ostensibly over India's import of Russian oil.
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was among the all-party delegation sent as part of India's global outreach against terrorism in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. The MP from Thoothukkudi led the delegation that visited Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
17 minutes ago
- First Post
John Abraham's 'Tehran' director Arun Gopal: 'Understood the covert operations involving India, Iran, and Israel
Gopal added, 'Characters who operate in moral grey zones will always be fascinating - people who are both perpetrators and victims of geopolitics.' read more John Abraham's film Tehran has been awaiting its release since 2023. It finally releases on Zee5 during the Independence Day weekend. And in an interview with Bollywood Hungama, the actor broke his silence on the same. John revealed, 'It's very disheartening. I'm not going to mince my words on it, but it breaks your heart, especially for an actor who always wants to be seen on the big screen. But we all made a very informed decision on that. And the decision was that because of the conflicts and controversies that are happening around internationally.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And the director of the film Arun Gopal has spilled the beans on the idea of the film and said, 'What initially drew me in was the sheer intrigue of an espionage'ish thriller set against a backdrop we rarely get to explore cinematically - the geopolitical landscape of the Iran-Israel conflict. But when I started my research I soon realised that 'geopolitics' was just the texture - the real deal was a deeper curiosity: how personal loyalty and political ideologies collide in the shadows' Gopal added, 'Characters who operate in moral grey zones will always be fascinating - people who are both perpetrators and victims of geopolitics. Once I started spending more time with real officials and agents, I understood real-world events and covert operations involving India, Iran, and Israel. That's when the story started to take shape. It wasn't just about action or politics anymore - it became about identity, choices, and the cost of duty.' On political thrillers and the sensitivity of the material It's tightrope over a minefield - especially when the lines between fact and fiction start to blur. Did we as makers, second-guess certain choices? Yes we did. Not because they weren't dramatic or compelling, but because the subject matter touched on real tensions, real countries, and real people. You want to tell a gripping story, but you also don't want to misrepresent or sensationalise just for the sake of impact. One scene in particular - without giving too much away - raised internal debates. It dealt with a decision I took on set, involving the antagonist's vice and I kept circling back to whether it was too provocative, too loaded, or simply too risky. In the end - we kept it, but only after we ensured it was rooted in character truth, not just political noise. That's the challenge with this genre: staying honest to your story while respecting the gravity of the world you're portraying. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
India.com
17 minutes ago
- India.com
Why the India–U.S. Trade War Isn't A Lover's Spat — And Why History Says America Will Blink First, Leaving Trump's Successor To Pay A Bigger Price To Woo New Delhi
New Delhi: In early August 2025, President Donald Trump sharply escalated trade tensions with India by doubling the existing 25 percent tariff on Indian goods to a punishing 50 punishing. This included an additional 25 percent 'secondary tariff' announced on August 6, set to take effect on August 27, 2025. The decision came in response to India's continued purchases of Russian oil, which Washington views as indirectly funding Moscow's war in Ukraine. The tariffs target some of India's most valuable export sectors to the U.S., including textiles, gems and jewellery (worth about US $8.5 billion in 2024), and auto parts, while sparing pharmaceuticals (US $8 billion), smartphones and electronics (US $14.4 billion), and energy goods. Seafood (US $2 billion) and machinery (US $7.1 billion) are also key exports. In total, India sold US $87.3 billion worth of goods to the U.S. in 2024, against imports of US $41.5 billion from America—leaving the U.S. with a US $45.8 billion goods trade deficit. The United States has avoided applying similar tariffs on India's service exports—such as IT outsourcing, software, consulting, and back-office work—because these are governed by different WTO rules and directly benefit American companies by lowering operational costs. However, high goods tariffs risk serious geopolitical fallout. India is a critical partner in the Indo-Pacific strategy, central to balancing China's rise. Harsh trade measures could weaken trust, disrupt defence and intelligence cooperation, and strain the Quad alliance (U.S., India, Japan, Australia). They also risk pushing India toward deeper economic and security ties with Russia and China, reducing America's leverage in Asia. This is not the first time U.S.–India relations have been tested. In 1998, India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests triggered U.S. sanctions under the Glenn Amendment, including aid bans, technology export restrictions, and blocked loans. Those tensions eased only after strategic talks in 1999–2000, paving the way for the landmark 2005–2008 civil nuclear deal, when Washington bent its non-proliferation rules to allow nuclear cooperation with a non-NPT state. That deal was a major concession, aimed at drawing India closer as a democratic counterweight to China. Today, with trade disputes replacing nuclear concerns, Washington faces a similar choice: punish New Delhi for policies it opposes, or preserve a long-term partnership built over decades. The risk is clear—short-term economic retaliation could cost the U.S. long-term strategic influence in one of the world's most important bilateral relationships.
Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Justice must reach people's doorsteps, not remain in halls of power: CJI
Itanagar, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Sunday said the judiciary, legislature, and executive exist solely to serve the people and ensure justice is delivered swiftly and at minimal cost. Justice must reach people's doorsteps, not remain in halls of power: CJI "I have always been a staunch supporter of decentralisation. Justice should reach people's doorsteps," he said after inaugurating the newly constructed Gauhati High Court, Itanagar Permanent Bench building here. "Neither the courts, nor the judiciary, nor the legislature exist for the royals, judges, or members of the executive. We all exist to give justice to the people," he said. Gavai lauded successive chief justices of the Gauhati High Court for working to make justice more accessible. Commending Arunachal Pradesh's unity in diversity, the CJI said, the state has 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes. The government has made efforts to preserve and promote the traditions and culture of every tribe. "The country must progress, but not at the cost of our culture and traditions. It is one of our fundamental duties under the Constitution to preserve and conserve them," he said. Recalling his visits to several northeastern states in the past two years, Gavai said he was 'mesmerised' by the vibrant tribal culture. Referring to a recent visit to shelter homes in strife-torn Manipur, Gavai said, "A woman there told me, 'You are welcome to your home'. It touched my heart because for all of us, India is one, and for all Indians, India is their home." Quoting B R Ambedkar, he said: "Baba Saheb was a staunch supporter of India's unity. He always said, 'India first and India last'. He assured that our Constitution will keep India united and strong in times of peace and war, which we have witnessed even after 75 years." "Every religion has its own 'dharma granth' , but for every Indian, the Constitution is the great 'granth'. Our first allegiance must be to it," he added, urging citizens to read the document. Gavai also cited Ambedkar's reminder that 'political equality without economic and social equality has no value', and stressed the importance of constitutional provisions under Schedules V and VI to protect the culture and traditions of the Northeast's tribal communities. Earlier, Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Ashutosh Kumar said the new building reaffirms the Constitutional promise of justice without geographical barriers. "Let Arunachal be the place where justice comes first without delay, just as it witnesses the first sunrise," he said adding, court buildings are not just infrastructure, they are temples of Constitutional morality. Supreme Court judges Ujjal Bhuyan, N Kotiswar Singh, Sandeep Mehta, and Vijay Bishnoi also spoke on the occasion. The ₹135.35 crore state-of-the-art complex, housing five courtrooms and modern facilities, was built by the Public Works Department. Construction began in February 2021, following the foundation laid by Chief Minister Pema Khandu in 2018. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
