January 28, 2025: US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would "do what's right" in addressing the issue of undocumented Indian immigrants in the United States. Trump's comments followed a recent phone call with PM Modi, during which the leaders discussed various bilateral matters, including immigration.

President Trump has vowed to implement the largest deportation program in US history as part of his broader crackdown on illegal immigration. According to a report by Bloomberg News, the US and India have identified approximately 18,000 undocumented Indians currently residing in the US.

Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss concerns regarding irregular migration. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to the legitimate return of undocumented Indian nationals but stressed that the verification process is ongoing.

“As a government, we are obviously very much supportive of legal mobility because we believe in a global workplace,” Jaishankar said during a meeting with Indian journalists in Washington, D.C. “At the same time, we are also very firmly opposed to illegal mobility and illegal migration because when something illegal happens, many other illegal activities follow, which is not desirable.”

Jaishankar emphasized that India’s policy has always been to facilitate the return of its citizens if they are confirmed to be Indian nationals. However, he noted that determining the exact number of individuals eligible for deportation remains a work in progress.

The conversation also touched on broader immigration issues, including the extended wait times for US visas. Jaishankar highlighted the challenges faced by Indian professionals in obtaining visas, adding that "a 400-day waiting period to get a visa does not serve the relationship well."

While Trump has taken a hard stance on illegal immigration, he remains supportive of legal migration, particularly of skilled workers. Indian IT professionals, who are the largest recipients of H-1B visas issued by the US, play a critical role in fostering this legal migration.

The issue of undocumented immigrants continues to be a sensitive topic in US-India relations, with both nations aiming to strike a balance between ensuring legal pathways for skilled professionals and addressing concerns over illegal migration.