Saudi Arabia tops list of Indian deportations, over 24,600 expelled worldwide in a year

Saudi Arabia deported the highest number of Indians around 11,000 in the past year, according to data presented in the Rajya Sabha. In comparison, the United States deported 3,800 Indians during the same period. Overall, more than 24,600 Indians were deported from 81 countries worldwide.

A report tabled by the Ministry of External Affairs said deportations from Gulf countries are largely due to visa overstays, working without valid permits, violations of labour laws, absconding from employers, and involvement in civil or criminal cases.

The US ranked second after Saudi Arabia, with experts attributing the rise in deportations to stricter enforcement and document checks following renewed action against illegal immigration under President Donald Trump. Of those deported from the US, most were private-sector employees.

Officials noted that large-scale migration of Indian workers to Gulf nations primarily into construction, supervisory roles, and domestic work makes deportations from the region relatively common. Experts also highlighted different patterns in countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia, where deportations are often linked to cybercrime-related trafficking and forced labour.

The data further showed that student deportations were highest from the UK in 2025, followed by Australia, Russia, and the United States.