Tue Feb 04 02:23:36 UTC 2025: ## US Military Deports Indian Migrants in Unprecedented Move
**Washington D.C.** – The United States military has begun deporting Indian migrants, marking a significant escalation of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies. A C-17 military aircraft carrying a yet-undisclosed number of Indian nationals departed for India on [Date of Publication], according to Reuters. This is the first time the US military has deported migrants to India, representing the furthest distance such a deportation flight has ever covered. The Pentagon has stated that over 5,000 migrants are slated for deportation from El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California, via military flights.
Previous military deportation flights have targeted migrants in Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras. However, a recent standoff with Colombia resulted in the rejection of two US C-17 aircraft, forcing Colombia to utilize its own planes to repatriate migrants. President Trump has touted the use of military aircraft for deportations, claiming it’s an unprecedented move to return illegal immigrants to their countries of origin.
The US and India have reportedly identified approximately 18,000 Indian nationals residing illegally in the US. This action follows a phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which the President reportedly secured an agreement for India’s cooperation in accepting these deportees. The high number of Indian migrants reflects the large number of H-1B skilled worker visas issued by the US.
The cost-effectiveness of using military aircraft for deportations has been questioned. Reuters reports that a recent military flight to Guatemala cost at least $4,675 per migrant, far exceeding the cost of commercial flights.
This deportation initiative comes amidst a broader crackdown on immigration, including the deployment of troops to the US-Mexico border and the use of military bases to house migrants. President Trump’s immigration policies have been controversial since his inauguration, including the declaration of a national emergency at the southern border and threats to initiate “the largest deportation operation in American history.”
The news of the Indian deportations coincides with Trump’s imposition of tariffs on several countries, including Canada, Mexico, and China, highlighting the administration’s aggressive approach to both immigration and trade policy. While tariffs on Canada have been temporarily delayed following a $1.3 billion agreement on border security, the 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico remain in effect.
First Piper 