India will take back nationals illegally staying in the US or elsewhere: MEA

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We are against illegal immigration, especially because it is linked to several forms of organised crime.

"For Indians, not just in the United States but anywhere in the world, if they are overstaying or staying in a country without proper documentation, we will take them back, provided the documents are shared with us so that we can verify their nationality that they are indeed Indians."

Jaiswal said it's too early to discuss the number of Indian nationals who are staying in the US or other foreign countries illegally.

"At this point in time, any talk about numbers is premature," said Jaiswal.

India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who was present at the oath-taking ceremony of US president Donald Trump, on Wednesday cleared his country is open to the legitimate return of its nationals who are illegally living in America.

Addressing a press conference in Washington, Jaishankar had said, "We have always taken the view that if there are any of our citizens, who are not here legally, if we are sure that they are our citizens, we have always been open to their legitimate return to India. So it's not a position unique to the US."

"I understand right now that there is a certain debate going on and a resulting sensitivity which is there. But we have been consistent, we have been very principled about it, and that remains our position, and I conveyed that very clearly to US State Secretary Marco Rubio."

Trump, who returned to power with a massive mandate in November 5 last year elections, said he will take steps to secure the US borders.

He said in his inaugural address as the president, "All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came."

The Donald Trump administration has already arrested 500 illegal immigrants and deported hundreds using military aircraft days after the US president promised a crackdown on the illegal immigrants.

Along with the information, The White House has shared the names of the people who have been arrested.

The White House posted on X, "538 Total Arrests. 373 Detainers Lodged."

The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News, "President Trump is using every lever of his executive power to secure our nation's borders...

"He is sending a very clear message to the rest of the world, if you are even thinking for a single second about illegally entering our country and breaking the laws of the United States of America you will face consequences for doing so!"