1.34L Indians deported in 5 years, no state-wise data available
Revelation in Rajya Sabha following question by MP Sant Balbir Singh
In response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha, the Central Government has admitted that no detailed or verified state-wise data is available, including Punjab, on Indians who travelled abroad illegally or were deported.
Replying to the question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that many countries shared information only during deportation or nationality verification processes. In several cases, deportation was carried out directly by the foreign governments concerned, due to which complete information did not always reach Indian Embassies.
However, based on data received from various Indian missions abroad, around 1,34,365 nationals were deported between 2021 and 2025. These figures clearly highlight the alarming scale of illegal migration networks.
According to official data, the highest number of deportations occurred from Saudi Arabia (around 1.21 lakh), followed by nearly 22,000 from the UAE. Deportations have also been reported from the United States, Malaysia, Qatar, and Myanmar, among others.
Speaking to the media, Sant Seechewal said the absence of state-level data and a coherent policy was creating space for illegal agents to operate freely. He pointed out that when over 1.34 lakh Indians had been deported in just five years and there was no separate data even for a migration-prone state like Punjab, it reflected not only a data gap, but also a serious policy failure.
He stressed that in Punjab, Haryana and other affected states, fake agents were pushing the youth towards dangerous and illegal routes abroad. Strict action and accountability against such networks were urgently required.
Sant Seechewal further demanded the creation of a state-wise deportation tracking system, stronger coordination with foreign governments and stringent action against illegal agents, so that more families were not forced to pay the heavy price of unsafe and unlawful migration.
