In a coordinated effort with the Indian government, the US has chartered a flight to deport Indian nationals who had been staying illegally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported on Friday.
The charter flight was sent to India on October 22, the department said on Friday.
Kristie A. Canegallo, a senior official at the DHS acting as Deputy Secretary, warned against misinformation spread by smugglers, stating, “Indian nationals without a legal basis to remain in the United States are subject to swift removal, and intending migrants should not fall for the lies of smugglers who proclaim otherwise.”
The DHS statement reinforced that US immigration laws are being enforced rigorously, with strict consequences for those entering the country unlawfully.
Since the implementation of the Securing the Border Presidential Proclamation and related Interim Final Rule in June 2024, migrant encounters along the US southwest border have fallen by 55 percent.
In fiscal year 2024, the DHS reported the removal or repatriation of over 160,000 individuals through more than 495 international flights to 145 countries, including India. Regular engagement with foreign governments has enabled the repatriation of nationals without legal status across the globe, including from countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, China, and India.
According to the DHS, this chartered repatriation effort is part of a broader strategy that prioritises safe, lawful migration paths and targets transnational criminal networks exploiting migrants.
The US government stresses that law-abiding migration routes remain the only guaranteed way to enter the country legally, with enforcement to continue firmly against illegal entry.
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