The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deported a large number of Indian nationals who did not have the necessary permits and documents to reside in the country.

The Indian nationals were returned to India by a chartered flight on October 22, the ministry said in a statement.

“On October 22, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted a large-scale charter flight to the Republic of India to deport nationals Indians who had not established a legal basis to stay. in the United States,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the move demonstrates the ministry’s continued commitment to security and continued collaboration with the Government of India and other foreign partners to reduce and deter irregular migration and cooperatively combat human trafficking .

Kristie A. Canegallo, a senior official serving as assistant secretary of Homeland Security, said Indian nationals, who do not have a legitimate reason to remain in the United States, are “subject to expeditious removal, and future migrants should not fall into the trap.” the lies of smugglers who proclaim the opposite.

The department said it still enforces U.S. immigration rules and that those who enter the country illegally will face severe penalties.

Watch | WION Gravitas: Illegal Indian immigrants in the US number around 500,000

Additionally, it also involves quickly returning people without a legal basis to remain in the United States, while encouraging the use of legal avenues, he added.

DHS has deported people to several nationals, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Uzbekistan, the PRC, and India, over the past year.

As a result of these efforts, the department expelled or removed more people in FY24 than in any other year since FY2010, the agency said.

DHS has conducted more than 495 repatriation flights to more than 145 countries, including India, and has expelled or returned more than 160,000 people since June 2024.

While 25,616 Indians attempted to cross the border from Mexico into the southern United States between October 2023 and September 2024, 43,764 Indians attempted to cross the border from Canada into the United States.

Meanwhile, other Indians likely overstayed their visas or traveled to U.S. airports.

Over the past two years, more than 1,86,000 Indians have attempted to enter the United States illegally, according to US authorities.

(With contribution from agencies)