One Indian was deported every six hours from the US in 2024
United States deported one Indian every six hours in 2024, according to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report released on December 19. The number of Indians deported saw a dramatic 400% increase, rising from 292 individuals in 2021 to 1,529 in 2024. This rise is part of a broader trend of heightened enforcement, with total deportations reaching 2,71,484 globally in 2024, compared to 59,011 in 2021.
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A senior Indian official attributed the fluctuations in deportation numbers to changes in US immigration policies, enforcement priorities, and bilateral agreements between the two countries. «The increase in 2024 may also reflect broader migration trends and enforcement actions targeting individuals without legal status in the US,» the official said.
Currently, nearly 18,000 undocumented Indians are on ICE's radar for deportation. As of November 2024, ICE reports that 17,940 Indians are among the 14.4 lakh individuals in the non-detained docket, awaiting removal orders.
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