As many as 487 illegal Indian migrants are likely to be on the 'final removal list' of the US, said the Centre on Friday, two days after the flight with 104 Indians deported from the US landed in Amritsar.

According to data presented by EAM S Jaishankar during the Rajya Sabha session, between 2009 and 2025, deportations have fluctuated significantly.

The lowest deportation count was recorded in 2025 (104), while the highest was in 2019 (2,042). From 2009 to 2015, deportations remained relatively stable, ranging from 515 to 799, with a minor peak in 2015 (708).

A spokesperson at the US Embassy in New Delhi reportedly said enforcing immigration laws was critical for the country’s national security and public safety.

It is the policy of the United States to 'faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens' said US Embassy spokesperson Christopher Elms on Thursday.

The C-17 Globemaster military aircraft landed on Indian soil on Wednesday with deportees from Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab.

Indians were shackled in chains and with handcuffs during their journey to India.

“If you cross illegally, you will be removed,” threatened the US sharing the visuals of Indians being deported to India.