How Many Indians Got Deported in 2025?

The volume of the Indian population traveling to the United States for higher studies has been on a constant rise and it’s not likely to slow down voluntarily from our side either. But at the same time, the United States authorities have started to crack down on the population through deportation.

The situation brings attention to two parallel realities faced by Indians abroad, one involving voluntary citizenship change and the other forced return through deportation.

In recent years, a steadily rising number of Indians have chosen to renounce their Indian citizenship to acquire foreign nationality. Every year, over two lakh people give up their Indian passports, and over the past five years this figure has crossed close to one million. The reasons vary from better career prospects and higher quality of life to easier global mobility and family reunification.

A major factor behind this trend is India’s policy of not allowing dual citizenship, which forces individuals to make a permanent choice even if they wish to maintain strong emotional and cultural ties with the country. While many see this as personal progress, it also raises concerns about talent loss and long term impact on the nation.

At the same time, a significant number of Indians are being deported from foreign countries. Thousands have been sent back in a single year due to visa overstays, illegal employment, or violations of local immigration laws. To be precise, countries abroad have deported 24,600 Indians in the year 2025 itself.

Gulf countries account for a large share of these deportations, reflecting the vulnerability of migrant workers. Together, these trends highlight the complex challenges and realities of Indian migration in today’s global landscape.