Latest reports show that U.S. military flights are being used to deport migrants to India.
A U.S. military plane is deporting migrants to India, a U.S. official said on Monday, the farthest destination of the Trump administration’s military transport flights for migrants.
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It is still unclear whether the migrants on those flights are Indians. The move is controversial to say the least, it will also be interesting to see the diplomatic relations between the two countries evolve.
An immigration crackdown in the U.S. could significantly affect India, particularly in areas like employment, education, and family reunification. Indian professionals, especially in tech, make up a large portion of the U.S.’s H1-B visa holders. Stricter immigration policies could limit the availability of these visas, reducing job opportunities for skilled Indian workers. Similarly, Indian students, a significant part of the U.S. academic system, could face more challenges in obtaining student visas or post-graduation work permits, potentially affecting their careers.
Family-based immigration could also be restricted, impacting the ability of Indian nationals to reunite with family members in the U.S. The already long green card backlog for Indian applicants could grow, further delaying permanent residency for many.
Additionally, such policies could strain the U.S.-India relations, as immigration plays a key role in diplomatic and trade ties. Indian businesses may also find it harder to send skilled workers to the U.S., affecting investment and partnerships.
Recently, President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “will do what’s right” when it came to taking back Indian living in the U.S. illegally.
Trump made the remarks after receiving a phone call from Modi, their first conversation since Trump’s January 20 inauguration, amid reports that India and the U.S. had identified around 18,000 Indians who are in the country illegally.
A crackdown could push skilled professionals to migrate to other countries like Canada or Australia, which may offer more favorable immigration policies. This shift could ultimately impact the U.S.’s position as a global leader in innovation and talent.
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Reportedly, the Pentagon has also started providing flights to deport more than 5,000 immigrants held by U.S. authorities in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.
So far, military aircraft have flown migrants to Guatemala, Peru and Honduras.
The military flights are a costly way to transport migrants. Reuters reported that a military deportation flight to Guatemala last week likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant.