On February 23, 2025, a fourth group of Indian nationals deported from the United States arrived in New Delhi. The 12 individuals were transported via Panama, with four hailing from Punjab's Amritsar district. This latest arrival brings the total number of deported Indian nationals to 347 since President Donald Trump's administration intensified its immigration enforcement policies.

The initial deportation occurred on February 5, 2025, when a U.S. military aircraft transported 104 Indians to Amritsar. This unprecedented use of military resources for deportation drew significant attention and criticism, particularly concerning the treatment of deportees during transit.

In response to concerns about the deportees' treatment, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that the government has been engaging with U.S. authorities to ensure that deportees are not mistreated. He emphasized that deportations of illegal migrants are not a new development and have been ongoing for years.

President Trump has defended the mass deportation of undocumented foreign nationals, stating that his administration is "draining the swamp by sending home fraudsters, cheaters, globalists, and deep state bureaucrats." This policy has been a cornerstone of his administration's approach to immigration enforcement.

As of 2022, unauthorized immigrants represented 3.3% of the total U.S. population and 23% of the foreign-born population, according to the Pew Research Center. The Indian government has expressed its commitment to verifying the citizenship of deportees before accepting them back, aiming to balance international obligations with domestic concerns over illegal immigration.