According to Pew Research Centre, undocumented immigrants of Indian origin made up the third-largest demographic in the US after Mexicans and Salvadorans in 2024.
[3] In February 2025, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stated to have been investigating at least 4,300 Indians suspected of having unlawfully immigrated to the US between 2021 and 2024.
[8] The students reported the increased scrutiny from law enforcement officers visiting their workplaces to check their documents.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi urged PM Narendra Modi to look into this issue, and added that "Indians deserve Dignity and Humanity, NOT Handcuffs.
[13] Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised the Indian government for maintaining silence over the incident.
"[15] Author Kingshuk Nag termed the poor treatment of Indian immigrants to have underscored an unequal relationship between the two countries.
[12] On 7 February, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India has been notified about "487 presumed Indian nationals" who will be deported soon.