External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently informed the Rajya Sabha that 588 Indian nationals were deported from the United States and various European countries during the first three months of 2026. The United States accounted for the bulk of these cases, sending back 414 individuals, while European nations collectively deported 174. Within Europe, the United Kingdom and Cyprus emerged as the primary countries for such repatriations, with dozens of Indian citizens returned from each. This data highlights a continuing trend of rising deportations from the US, which has seen numbers climb steadily over the past few years.

In response to these figures, Minister Jaishankar emphasized that the government is actively working to combat the influence of illegal recruitment agents who lure job seekers with fraudulent overseas opportunities. The Ministry of External Affairs is currently coordinating with state police to prosecute these dubious firms under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while simultaneously using the eMigrate portal and social media to educate the public on the dangers of illegal migration. Additionally, while the responsibility for reintegrating returning migrants falls largely to state governments, the Ministry continues to offer legal support through the Indian Community Welfare Fund for those in distress abroad who meet specific financial criteria.