What Happens to Indian Immigrants Deported by the U.S.? Government’s Response Awaited
The United States government has been intensifying its deportation of undocumented immigrants, with 104 Indian nationals already repatriated via a military aircraft. Plans are underway to send back more individuals in the coming weeks. This development has sparked discussions about the future of these deported immigrants in India. While they may not face significant legal hurdles upon their return, the reality is that they are unlikely to be able to re-enter the U.S. or other Western nations anytime soon. Most countries do not issue visas to individuals who have been deported.
Legal experts state that unless these deportees had used forged documents to enter the U.S., the Indian government is unlikely to take legal action against them. Senior advocate and Delhi Bar Council Chairman K.K. Manan explained that as long as these individuals possess genuine Indian passports and valid personal identification documents, they will not face legal consequences in India. However, those who traveled illegally via fraudulent passports, altered names, or forged birthdates—often through unauthorized migration routes such as the “donkey route”—could face legal proceedings upon their return.
Former Advocate General of Punjab, Atul Nanda, noted that a significant number of deported immigrants are semi-literate and come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. He asserted that most of them are unlikely to have used fake documents. Meanwhile, lawyer Kamalesh Mishra, who specializes in immigration-related legal issues, stated that deported individuals will not be prosecuted unless they were involved in criminal activities abroad or engaged in passport fraud in India. Authorities, however, may conduct inquiries to verify the authenticity of their travel documents.
While deported immigrants may escape legal consequences in India, the agents who facilitated their illegal migration—often charging exorbitant sums—will face strict action.
Banned from Re-Entry for Up to a Decade
Legal experts confirm that deported individuals will find it extremely difficult to obtain visas in the future. Countries such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, the UK, and the Schengen zone nations generally refuse visas to those with a history of deportation. According to the U.S. Embassy website, deported individuals can be barred from applying for a visa for up to 10 years. The U.S. State Department further states that in most cases, undocumented foreign nationals who have been deported are not eligible to apply for a visa for at least five years, although some exceptions exist.
As deportation efforts intensify, attention is now shifting to the Indian government’s response and the measures it may take regarding those being forcibly repatriated.
