Saudi Arabia, Not US, Deported Most Indians in 2025 - What MEA Data Revealed

More than 24,600 Indians were deported from 81 countries in 2025, with Saudi Arabia accounting for the highest number, according to data presented by the Ministry of External Affairs in Parliament. Saudi Arabia deported over 11,000 Indians during the year, far more than any other country. By comparison, about 3,800 Indians were deported from the United States in 2025. While lower than Saudi Arabia’s figure, the U.S. number is the highest recorded in the past five years, the data showed.Experts attributed the rise in deportations from the United States to tighter scrutiny under the administration of US President Donald Trump, including checks on visa status, work authorisation and overstays. Most deportations from the US took place from Washington,

D.C., with 3,414 cases, followed by Houston with 234.

Other countries that saw significant deportations of Indians included Myanmar (1,591), United Arab Emirates (1,469), Malaysia (1,485), Bahrain (764), Thailand (481) and Cambodia (305).According to the ministry, the most common reasons for deportations, particularly from Gulf countries, were overstaying visas, working without valid permits, violating labour rules, absconding from employers and involvement in civil or criminal cases.

“This is a pattern with Gulf countries, which see a large migration of workers from India,” said Bheema Reddy, vice-chairman of the Telangana government’s NRI advisory committee. “Most of them are low-skilled workers who migrate through agents and, in many cases, in an attempt to earn extra money, end up involved in minor offences,” he said. “In other instances, lack of awareness about local laws and regulations proves costly," Reddy added, as quoted by The Times of India.

The data also showed that deportation of Indian students was highest from the United Kingdom, with 170 cases, followed by Australia (114), Russia (82) and the United States (45).Separately, India on Friday said it flagged its concerns to the US over cancellation of pre-scheduled H1B visa interviews of large numbers of Indian applicants and that both sides are engaged on the issue.The interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants slated from the middle of this month in India have been abruptly postponed by several months to scrutinise their social media posts and online profiles. Some of the applicants, whose visa appointments were scheduled last week, received e-mails from US immigration authorities informing that their interviews are being pushed back as late as May next year."The government of India remains actively engaged with the US side to minimise the disruptions caused to our nationals," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.