The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not hired any Indian Air Force (IAF), chartered, or commercial civilian aircraft for the repatriation of Indian immigrants from any country since 2020, the government informed Parliament on Thursday.
Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita stated this in a written response to a Rajya Sabha query raised by TMC MP Saket Gokhale.
The MEA was asked to provide details of all instances when it had used IAF aircraft, chartered flights, or commercial civilian aircraft to bring back Indian immigrants being deported from other countries between 2020 and the present. The query also sought details of countries that have used military aircraft for deporting Indian nationals since 2020.
“The MEA has not hired any IAF or chartered/commercial civilian aircraft for repatriating Indian immigrants being deported since 2020. However, in exceptional cases, Indian immigrants facing deportation were assisted in returning home through the purchase of tickets on commercial flights,” Margherita said.
US Deports 388 Indian Nationals in 2025
The government informed Parliament on March 21 that a total of 388 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States since January 2025 for illegally residing in the country.
- 333 Indians were deported directly from the US on three separate military flights in February.
- 55 Indian nationals were deported through Panama on commercial flights.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response to Lok Sabha, stated that from 2009 to 2024, a total of 15,564 Indian nationals were deported from the US to India via chartered or commercial aircraft.
Government Raises Concerns Over Religious Sensitivities
In response to a separate AAP MP Harbhajan Singh’s query, MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh said the Indian government has raised concerns with the US government regarding the need to accommodate religious sensitivities and food preferences of deported Indian nationals.
He stated that US authorities denied forcing deportees to remove religious head coverings and said that deportees only requested vegetarian meals.
The MEA remains engaged with the US to ensure humane treatment of deportees during repatriation operations.
US Deportations via Panama
Beginning January 20, 2025, the US deported 55 Indian nationals to New Delhi via Panama. These individuals were first deported to Panama under a bilateral arrangement, and Panama then facilitated their deportation to New Delhi on commercial flights with the help of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM).
The government confirmed that no Indian national has been deported by the US to any country other than Panama.
The MEA continues to work with the US authorities to ensure the safe and dignified return of all verified Indian nationals.
