Much hype over deportations under new Trump regime
The much-publicised deportation of the 200-odd Indians from the US today has come just 10 days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the US.
Deportations from the US have happened regularly over the past four decades, but such a publicised deportation appears to be the new normal for the Indian diplomacy under the Donald Trump regime. Such deportations have multiple implications for India, primarily due to the large diaspora abroad that sends remittances back home in billions of dollars annually. Deportations can disrupt the flow of money. The World Bank website says India received $125 billion remittance in 2023.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had met on January 21 in Washington DC, where the former set the agenda clearly by saying the US would “work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to the irregular migration matter”. Jaishankar had clarified India’s stance, saying that New Delhi is open to the “return” of Indian nationals living illegally. He had said India’s position was “consistent and principled”.
In November, the US had given a list of 18,000 Indians who faced deportation. Keen to push for legal migration, India in the past few years has signed mobility and migration and labour agreements with several countries. In the past four decades, such agreements have been signed with Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE.
India has signed with France, UK and Germany the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA), which is comprehensive in nature and covers short stay visas, and mobility of students, researchers and professionals for economic reasons. It prevents irregular migration and trafficking in human beings. Also, there have been agreements with Japan on “specified skilled workers” and with Portugal on the recruitment of Indian workers. India is also discussing the MMPA with Denmark, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Germany Austria and Australia.
