2,417 Indians deported from US since January: MEA

Over 2400 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States US since January the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said on FridayThe issue gained attention recently after American authorities repatriated Harjit Kaur a 73yearold Sikh woman from Punjab who had lived in the US for three decadesMEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India opposes illegal migration while promoting legal pathways for people mobilityldquoThe US has deported a total of 2417 Indian nationals between January 20 and September 25rdquo he said referring also to the case of KaurldquoOnce the Indian nationality of any person who is in any country without legal status is proved they are taken back This is also the case with the USrdquo Jaiswal saidHe added ldquoWe want to promote legal pathways for migration At the same time India stands against illegal migration Whenever there is a person without legal status in any country who is referred to us we do a background check and confirm the nationality Once confirmed we are in a position to take them back This is what has been happening with deportations from the USrdquoOn visa fraud and other such cases he said ldquoWe want to promote legal migration from India while clamping down on illegal migration which undermines our effortsrdquoAccording to news agency PTI Jaiswal also noted that the Indian government is working with state authorities to tackle those promoting illegal migration and visa fraudsIndia calls NATO chiefs claims on PM Modi lsquoentirely baselessrsquoIndia on Friday described as ldquoentirely baselessrdquo NATO Secretary General Mark Ruttersquos remarks suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek a strategy on Ukraine allegedly due to the impact of US punitive tariffs on India for its energy ties with Moscow news agency PTI reportedMEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said ldquoSpeculative or careless remarks that misrepresent Modirsquos engagements or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptablerdquoOn Indiarsquos continued procurement of Russian crude oil he added ldquoThere cannot be any double standards in this matterrdquo noting that US President Donald Trumprsquos recent remarks appeared critical of the EU and NATO nations for their energy ties with RussiaRutte told CNN on the margins of the United Nations UN General Assembly in New York that Trumps tariffs on India are having a big impact on Russia and New Delhi is on the phone with PutinAnd Narendra Modi is asking him to explain his strategy on Ukraine because India is being hit with tariffs the NATO chief claimedWith ANI and PTI inputs