The Trump administration has ramped up a sweeping new phase of its deportation campaign, with undocumented Indian nationals squarely in its sights. The 18000 Indians deportation USA effort targets undocumented Indian nationals living across the country, and this time, those detained will have no opportunity to appeal, argue their case, or even secure legal representation before removal.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) teams have been conducting continuous raids across major American cities, and the administration is once again preparing to use military aircraft for deportation flights—a practice that became one of the most widely circulated images of its strict immigration policy after the first such flight in February 2025.
Quick Highlights : 18000 Indians Deportation USA
- The 18000 Indians deportation USA campaign targets undocumented Indian nationals with no right to appeal, argument, or legal counsel before removal
- ICE has intensified raids across multiple U.S. cities, including New York, Texas, California, and New Jersey
- Two new detention centers—one in El Paso and two in California—have been converted from purchased warehouses at a cost of roughly ₹16,500 crore
- These facilities can hold approximately 12,000 migrants combined
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed 3,567 Indians were deported in 2025, with 1,076 more deported by June 2026
- The first military deportation flight carrying 104 Indians landed in Amritsar on February 5, 2025, with detainees shown in handcuffs and shackles
- Pew Research Center estimates place the undocumented Indian population in the U.S. at approximately 18,000, among the largest such groups after Mexico and El Salvador
Why the 18000 Indians Deportation USA Figure Keeps Surfacing
The number 18,000 has become a fixed reference point in discussions of Indian deportations from the United States, tracing back to early reports from January 2025 when the Trump administration first identified roughly 18,000 undocumented Indian nationals as deportation targets. According to Pew Research Center estimates, this figure places Indians among the largest groups of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. after nationals from Mexico and El Salvador.
Indian government sources have acknowledged that the actual number could be considerably higher, given the difficulty of precisely tracking undocumented populations. Some estimates have suggested the total pool of potential cases could eventually reach as high as 200,000 as more individuals are identified and verified through ongoing enforcement operations.
New Infrastructure Built Specifically for This Campaign
To support the scale of the 18000 Indians deportation USA operation and broader enforcement efforts, the Trump administration has purchased and converted new detention facilities specifically for holding migrants awaiting removal. One facility has been established in El Paso, Texas, with two additional warehouses converted in California.
Combined, an estimated ₹16,500 crore has been spent acquiring and converting these properties into ICE-operated detention centers. These facilities are now reportedly holding around 12,000 migrants at any given time, representing a substantial expansion of physical detention capacity dedicated to processing removal cases.
Attorneys Describe a Fundamental Shift in Due Process
Immigration attorneys who have practiced for decades say the current phase of enforcement represents a dramatic departure from how undocumented cases were previously handled. New York-based immigration attorney Greg Siskind, who has represented immigrants for 30 years, described the shift bluntly: undocumented immigrants have traditionally had the opportunity to present their case, but under the current wave of ICE raids, individuals are now being sent directly to detention centers without that process.
Siskind also noted that because of the federal structure of the American legal system, human rights protections vary significantly from state to state—yet ICE has been conducting operations across state lines regardless of these local legal differences, creating an inconsistent and often confusing legal landscape for those caught up in the 18000 Indians deportation USA sweep.
Ground Reports From Four American Cities
Reporting from New York, Texas, California, and New Jersey reveals just how deeply this deportation campaign has reshaped daily life for undocumented Indian families across the country.
New York: Community members describe living in constant fear, startled by every doorbell ring, uncertain whether it signals a delivery or an ICE raid. Families have restricted children’s outdoor activities and adopted a rule that only one parent leaves the house at a time, fearing that if both are detained, no one would remain to care for their children.
Texas: Families keep photocopies of essential documents and an immigration lawyer’s number readily available at all times. Every morning before leaving for work, some inform their families exactly where they’re going and when they expect to return—a precaution against the possibility of sudden detention.
California: Communities that once relied on informal networks for jobs and housing information now circulate warnings about raids, checkpoints, and monitored neighborhoods instead. Some individuals describe living in a state of persistent fear for over a year.
New Jersey: Families describe detention center conditions marked by alleged mistreatment, with some detainees reportedly held for extended periods without natural light and subjected to harsh treatment during interactions with agents.
The Data Behind the Deportations
According to figures released by India’s Ministry of External Affairs in June 2026, 3,567 Indian nationals were deported from the United States during 2025. That pace has continued into the current year, with 1,076 additional Indians deported by June 2026 alone.
The most widely publicized moment in this ongoing 18000 Indians deportation USA campaign came on February 5, 2025, when the U.S. deployed a military aircraft to deport 104 Indian nationals directly to Amritsar. Images showing several deportees restrained in handcuffs and leg shackles sparked significant controversy across India, prompting heated debate in Parliament and widespread public criticism of the treatment these individuals received during transit.
India’s Official Position on Deportation Cooperation
India’s government has maintained a consistent stance throughout this process, stating clearly that it opposes illegal immigration and will accept the return of any verified Indian national living illegally in the United States. Officials have emphasized that cooperation depends specifically on document verification—India will accept individuals back once their nationality has been confirmed through proper documentation.
This cooperative posture has been framed partly as an effort to protect legal immigration channels for Indian citizens, particularly student visas and H-1B visas, given that Indians accounted for nearly three-quarters of all H-1B visas granted in recent years. New Delhi has signaled it does not want illegal immigration enforcement to become a broader point of friction that could jeopardize these legal pathways.
Regional Patterns in Undocumented Migration
A significant share of the undocumented Indian population targeted in this campaign originates from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. Many individuals from these states have historically used an unauthorized immigration method known as “Dunki”—involving irregular, multi-country routes to reach the United States—despite the clear and escalating risks now associated with detection and deportation under the current enforcement environment.
What This Means Going Forward
The scale and intensity of the 18000 Indians deportation USA campaign shows no sign of slowing. With new detention infrastructure now operational, ICE conducting sustained raids across multiple states, and India continuing its policy of cooperative verification, undocumented Indian nationals across the U.S. face an increasingly narrow window to resolve their status through any available legal channel before enforcement actions catch up with them.
For families currently living without documentation, immigration attorneys are urging anyone facing potential enforcement action to consult with legal counsel immediately, given how dramatically the process of detention and removal has accelerated compared to previous years.
Key Takeaways Of 18000 Indians Deportation USA
The 18000 Indians deportation USA effort represents one of the most significant and visible components of the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, marked by military deportation flights, newly built detention infrastructure, and a due process framework that now offers detained individuals no opportunity to appeal or secure legal representation before removal. With thousands already deported and India continuing to cooperate on document verification, the human toll of this campaign is increasingly visible in daily life across Indian immigrant communities in cities like New York, Texas, California, and New Jersey.
FAQs : 18000 Indians Deportation USA
How many Indians are targeted under the 18000 Indians deportation USA campaign?
Approximately 18,000 undocumented Indian nationals have been identified by U.S. authorities, according to Pew Research Center estimates and figures first reported in January 2025, though officials acknowledge the actual number could be higher.
Do detained Indians get a chance to appeal or hire a lawyer?
No. Under the current enforcement approach, undocumented individuals detained in ICE raids are being sent directly to detention centers without the opportunity to appeal, argue their case, or secure legal representation beforehand.
How many Indians have actually been deported so far?
India’s Ministry of External Affairs reported 3,567 Indians deported in 2025, with an additional 1,076 deported between January and June 2026.
Where are the new detention centers located?
New facilities have been established in El Paso, Texas, and two locations in California, converted from purchased warehouses at a combined cost of approximately ₹16,500 crore, with capacity for around 12,000 migrants.
Which Indian states have the most undocumented migrants in the US?
A significant proportion of undocumented Indian migrants originate from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, with many having used unauthorized “Dunki” immigration routes to reach the United States.
Source : Dainik Bhaskar
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