<p>The United States has sent back Indian nationals who stayed in the US illegally, said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Friday, adding that it has been done in cooperation with the Government of India. </p>
<p>The charter flight was sent to India on October 22 through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the DHS said. </p>
<p>”On October 22, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted a large-frame charter removal flight to the Republic of India of Indian nationals who did not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States,” DHS said in a statement. </p>
<p>”This week’s flight demonstrates the Department’s continued commitment to pursuing sustained cooperation with the Indian government and other international partners to reduce and deter irregular migration and jointly work to counter human smuggling,” it added. </p>
<p>A senior official performing the duties of Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie A. Canegallo said, “Indian nationals without a legal basis to remain in the United States are subject to swift removal, and intending migrants should not fall for the lies of smugglers who proclaim otherwise.” </p>
<p>Since June 2024, over 1,60,000 individuals have been returned or removed by the DHS while more than 495 international repatriation flights were operated to more than 145 countries, including India. </p>
<p>”Since June 2024, when the Securing the Border Presidential Proclamation and accompanying Interim Final Rule went into effect, encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border have decreased by 55%,” said the DHS. </p>
<p>It said that the department regularly engaged with foreign governments globally to accept repatriations of their nationals without a legal basis to remain in the United States.</p>