NEW DELHI: Nearly 1,100 Indian nationals, who were living in the United States illegally, were repatriated during 2023-24 American financial year, according to senior official in the US Department of homeland security (DHS), PTI reported on Tuesday.
The DHS was holding a press briefing over the recent announcement by US homeland authorities about the deportation of a group of Indian nationals residing illegally in the country.
In response to a question about these deportations, assistant secretary for border and immigration policy, US DHS Royce Murray said that approximately 1,100 Indian nationals were repatriated during the US financial year 2023-24, which concluded on September 30.
Regarding the October 22 charter flight, the DHS official said that there were “no minor” on that flight, adding that they were all male and female adults.
In the fiscal year 2024, DHS removed or returned over 160,000 individuals and conducted more than 495 international repatriation flights to over 145 countries, including India.
It has said that it consistently collaborates with foreign governments to facilitate the repatriation of their nationals who lack a legal basis to stay in the United States.
“This is one tool among many DHS uses to reduce irregular migration, promote the use of safe, lawful, and orderly pathways, and hold transnational criminal networks accountable for smuggling and exploitation of vulnerable people,” it said.