India to Repatriate 18,000 Illegal Immigrants from U.S., Aiming to Protect H-1B Visas and Student Permits

Jan 21, 2025, 03:12 PM

India's government has agreed to collaborate with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to identify and repatriate approximately 18,000 Indian citizens who are residing illegally in the United States. This move is seen as an effort by India to comply with Trump's immigration policies and avoid potential trade conflicts. The agreement comes as part of broader discussions between the two nations on migration and mobility, aiming to foster more legal migration opportunities for Indians to the U.S., including expanding legal pathways such as H-1B visas and student permits. This development comes at a time when around 750,000 Indians are among the millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who are on edge due to Trump's return to the White House.