New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday confirmed that India maintains close cooperation with the United States on migration matters, particularly concerning the deportation of Indian nationals residing illegally in the US.
Since January 2025, around 1,080 Indians have been deported from the United States, with approximately 62 percent of them returning via commercial flights, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“We have strong collaboration between India and the US on migration issues, especially deportation of Indian nationals who are either staying illegally or have entered illegally. We take them back once we receive the necessary information,” Mr. Jaiswal explained.
He also addressed the ongoing controversy involving the Trump administration and Harvard University, referring to the US government’s recent changes in guidance related to Student and Exchange Visitor visa applicants.
“The welfare of Indian students abroad remains our utmost priority,” Mr. Jaiswal stated. “While visa issuance is a sovereign decision, we hope that Indian students’ applications are evaluated fairly so they can join their academic programs on time.”
The US State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, recently instructed embassies worldwide to halt scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants as the Trump administration considers expanding social media screening and background checks, according to a report by Politico.
This directive could make it more challenging for foreign students to secure entry into US educational institutions. The State Department cable noted, “Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,” anticipated in the coming days.
India continues to monitor these developments closely, emphasizing the protection and timely support of its students abroad.
