Trump Defends Deporting 335 Indians, Calls Them 'Cheaters and Liars'

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Key Takeaways

• Since February 5, 2025, the US deported 335 Indian nationals via three flights, reflecting intensified illegal immigration enforcement.
• Deportees included 19 women and 14 minors; most hailed from Haryana (44), Gujarat (33), and Punjab (31).
• Deportees reported shackling and denial of religious freedoms during transit, drawing criticism from human rights and Sikh groups.

Since February 5, 2025, the United States has deported 335 Indian nationals as part of a sweeping enforcement initiative aimed at curbing illegal immigration. These deportations, carried out under the Trump administration, have garnered significant attention, partly due to President Donald Trump’s combative remarks, labeling the deportees as “cheaters” and “liars” who are now “sent packing.” The situation has sparked discussions over the effectiveness, fairness, and broader consequences of such policies.

Flights Facilitating Deportations

Trump Defends Deporting 335 Indians, Calls Them ‘Cheaters and Liars’

The deportations have been organized through three flights, all touching down at Sri Guru Ram Das International Airport in Amritsar, India 🇮🇳. The first flight, which arrived on February 5, carried 104 deportees. A second flight followed on February 16 with 119 individuals. The most recent flight, on February 17, brought home another 112 Indian nationals. Together, these efforts account for the total 335 people removed from the United States in just under two weeks.

Upon arriving in India, deportees underwent strict immigration protocols, including background checks and identity verifications. They were subsequently transported to their home states to conclude the process.

Demographics of Those Deported

An analysis of the most recent group of 112 deportees provides insights into the diverse backgrounds of those affected. Among them were 19 women and 14 minors, including two infants. Most deportees hailed from the Indian states of Haryana, Gujarat, and Punjab, with the numbers breaking down as follows:

44 from Haryana
33 from Gujarat
31 from Punjab
2 from Uttar Pradesh
1 each from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

Issues of Treatment During Transit

Reports from the February 16 deportation flight reveal troubling accounts of the deportees’ experiences. Several individuals reported being shackled during the journey, a measure that has drawn criticism from human rights organizations. Moreover, Sikh nationals said they were not permitted to wear turbans, a significant article of their religious faith, prompting outrage from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an influential Sikh body. Such allegations raise important concerns about how cultural and religious sensitivities are handled in the context of deportation.

Trump Administration’s Position

President Donald Trump has consistently emphasized that his administration is committed to cracking down on illegal immigration. Speaking on the matter, he stated, “The fraudsters, liars, cheaters, globalists, and deep state bureaucrats are being sent packing.” This rhetoric reflects Trump’s broader immigration policy, which prioritizes robust border enforcement and the deportation of undocumented individuals, seen by his administration as critical to protecting American interests.

The numbers, however, suggest these deportations represent only a small dent in the broader issue. A 2022 report from the US Department of Homeland Security estimated that approximately 220,000 Indians were living in the United States without proper documentation. Over the 12 months leading up to October 2024, more than 1,100 Indians had already been deported. The figure of 335 indicates heightened enforcement but highlights the scale of undocumented migration that remains unaddressed.

New Strategy Employing Third-Party Nations

In a marked shift, the Trump administration has begun implementing agreements with Central American nations to process deported migrants before their eventual return to their home countries. For instance:

Costa Rica recently agreed to accommodate 200 undocumented migrants from countries including India, awaiting identity verification.
Panama has received deportees from various countries, including India, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Additional agreements with Guatemala and El Salvador facilitate the processing of deportees en route to their final destinations.

This strategy allows the United States to ensure that deported individuals remain in secure facilities while their home countries confirm their identities, which can take months.

Although this approach underscores the administration’s firm stance on immigration control, it also brings logistical and humanitarian challenges. Many migrants face uncertainties and challenging conditions in these intermediary countries during the extended waiting periods.

Funding and Oversight of Repatriations

The US government has allocated funding for the repatriation process, with the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) providing oversight. The IOM ensures that migrants in countries like Costa Rica are cared for until they can be fully repatriated. This international cooperation reflects the complexity of managing illegal immigration on a global scale.

India’s Reaction and Role

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has voiced its readiness to repatriate undocumented nationals found living overseas. Responding to reports that the Trump administration aimed to deport some 18,000 undocumented Indians, Indian officials reaffirmed the country’s commitment. During a February 13, 2025, meeting with President Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also emphasized India’s willingness to accept its nationals under such circumstances.

For many deportees, however, the process is a deeply personal and often painful ordeal. For instance, Buta Singh, a 37-year-old from Punjab, was deported after just five months in the United States. His wife and three children traveled to Amritsar to meet him following his return.

Human Rights and Legal Concerns

The deportations, particularly with this new strategy of involving third-party nations, have sparked concern among human rights organizations. They argue that lengthy verification periods and unclear conditions in intermediary countries may leave deportees vulnerable. Critics also point to the potential emotional and financial strains placed on deported individuals and their families.

In some cases, immediate legal ramifications followed the deportations. Two members of the February 16 group, both from Punjab’s Patiala district, were arrested upon arrival in connection with a 2023 murder investigation.

Broader Implications and Future Outlook

The ongoing deportations highlight an intensification of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. These actions not only affect individual migrants and their families but also have broader implications for US-India relations. With 335 Indian nationals deported over a short time span and agreements in place with Central American countries to support the process, it is clear the US government remains committed to firm policies on illegal immigration.

However, this approach raises many questions. For one, the humanitarian concerns surrounding treatment during transit and in intermediary countries continue to provoke backlash. Additionally, the scope and sustainability of such measures remain uncertain, given the sheer number of undocumented migrants still living in the United States.

As these policies move forward, it will be important to watch how they influence the lives of immigrants, partnerships between nations, and the future of global migration policies. Readers seeking official information on US immigration policies can visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website for updates on deportation and visa enforcement procedures.

In summary, the Trump administration’s deportation policy involving 335 Indians highlights a stricter stance on illegal immigration enforcement. As reported by VisaVerge.com, this crackdown reflects larger global trends in migration politics and underscores the challenges of balancing security measures with humanitarian principles.

Learn Today

Deportation → The process of forcibly removing an individual from a country, often due to immigration violations or undocumented status.
Repatriation → The return of someone to their home country, typically after being deported or living abroad without legal documentation.
Verification → The process of confirming someone’s identity or details, often used in immigration to validate deportees’ information before repatriation.
Undocumented Migrants → Individuals residing in a country without legal authorization or proper immigration documentation required by that country.
Third-Party Nations → Countries used as intermediaries to temporarily house deportees while their identity or repatriation process is finalized.

This Article in a Nutshell

The recent deportation of 335 Indian nationals under the Trump administration underscores the complex intersection of immigration enforcement and human rights. With concerns over harsh transit conditions and strained US-India relations, this crackdown highlights urgent questions: Can strict policies effectively curb illegal immigration without compromising humanity? The world is watching closely.
— By VisaVerge.com