New Delhi

India and the United States are maintaining regular engagement on issues related to migration and mobility, with a focus on promoting legal movement of people while addressing illegal migration, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 1,076 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States so far in 2026. In comparison, 3,567 Indian nationals were deported during 2025.

He noted that New Delhi and Washington remain in constant communication to ensure that legitimate avenues for migration, including education and professional opportunities, are facilitated while illegal migration is effectively discouraged.

The remarks came amid recent immigration enforcement actions by US authorities. Jaiswal reiterated India's position that legal migration should be encouraged and that both countries are working together on migration-related issues through established channels.

The spokesperson also referred to India's longstanding policy regarding undocumented nationals abroad. He said that whenever foreign governments identify individuals suspected to be Indian citizens without legal immigration status, Indian authorities verify their nationality through established procedures before accepting their return.

According to Jaiswal, this process has been routinely followed in deportation cases involving the United States.

His comments follow the recent arrest of an Indian national by US immigration authorities in Los Angeles. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that the individual was taken into custody on May 21 and is currently undergoing removal proceedings. The agency said the person had previously faced charges related to vehicle theft, grand theft, trespassing and vandalism.

India has consistently maintained that while it supports safe, orderly and legal migration, it remains opposed to illegal migration and works with partner countries to address such cases through verification and repatriation mechanisms.

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The MEA underscored that migration and mobility continue to be an important area of cooperation between India and the United States, with ongoing discussions aimed at balancing opportunities for lawful movement with measures to curb irregular migration.