 "MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. PTI file")
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that India is against illegal immigrants and that the government will facilitate the return of Indian citizens from the United States. The statement comes days after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order ordering the deportation of illegal immigrants from the country.
“We are against illegal immigration, especially because it is linked to several forms of organised crime,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
He added that Indians who are “overstaying” or living without proper documentation not just in the US but in other countries too will be brought back provided they can prove their nationality and that they are “indeed Indians”.
Earlier this week, a Bloomberg report said that the US and Indian governments have identified 18,000 Indian citizens living illegally in the country to be sent back home. Sources told the publication that the figure can be much higher, although it is unclear how many more people can be added to the list since the number of Indian illegal immigrants is not known.
Declaring illegal immigration a national emergency on the day of his inauguration, Trump ordered the Pentagon to provide support for border wall construction, detention space, and migrant transportation and empowered the secretary of Defense to send troops to the border as needed.
“One of my most important obligations is to protect the American people from the disastrous effects of unlawful mass migration and resettlement. My Administration will marshal all available resources and authorities to stop this unprecedented flood of illegal aliens into the United States,” Trump said.
India is hoping that its cooperation with the Trump administration will safeguard legal migration channels used by citizens to enter the US like student visas and the H-1B program.