The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) routinely collaborates with foreign governments globally to facilitate the repatriation of their citizens who lack a legal right to stay in the United States.

On October 22, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, deported Indian nationals who could not demonstrate a legal basis for remaining in the U.S.

The large charter flight was organized in coordination with the Indian government and aligns with DHS's commitment to mitigate and deter irregular migration while working with international partners to combat human smuggling.

“Indian nationals who do not have a legal right to remain in the United States face prompt deportation, and potential migrants should not be misled by the false claims of smugglers,” stated Kristie A. Canegallo, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. “The Department of Homeland Security will continue to uphold our nation’s laws.”

According to a press release, over the past year, DHS has deported individuals to various countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Uzbekistan, the People’s Republic of China, and India. These actions have resulted in DHS deporting or returning more individuals in Fiscal Year 2024 than in any year since Fiscal Year 2010.

Moreover, since the implementation of the Securing the Border Presidential Proclamation and the related Interim Final Rule in June 2024, encounters at ports of entry along the southwest border have dropped by 55 percent, according to the release. In Fiscal Year 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has processed the removal or return of more than 160,000 individuals, organizing over 495 repatriation flights to a total of 145 countries, including India.