Saudi Arabia has deported significantly more Indian nationals than the US over the last five years, according to official data tabled in the Rajya Sabha by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).The figures underline the scale of migration-related violations in the Gulf region, particularly involving visa overstays and labour law breaches, rather than illegal border crossings, officials indicated.In a written reply to a question on December 18, 2025, Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, said that while many foreign governments do not routinely share detention data, deportation figures issued through Emergency Certificates provide a reliable indicator of enforcement actions taken against Indian nationals abroad.advertisementSaudi Arabia Biggest Deporting CountryAs per the government reply, Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of Indian deportations globally during the period 2021–2025.Data from the Indian Mission in Riyadh shows:2021: 8,887 deportations2022: 10,277 deportations2023: 11,486 deportations2024: 9,206 deportations2025 (till date): 7,019 deportationsOfficials said the high numbers reflect Saudi Arabia’s strict enforcement of residency (Iqama) rules, labour reforms, and periodic crackdowns on visa overstays, especially in the wake of Saudisation policies and tighter labour market controls.”The Gulf region, especially Saudi Arabia, continues to see large-scale deportations due to overstaying visas, working without permits, or violating residency norms,” a senior official familiar with the data said.US DEPORTATIONS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERIn contrast, deportations of Indian nationals from the US remain substantially lower, despite heightened immigration enforcement debates in Washington.According to MEA data from Indian Missions in the US:Washington DC:2021: 8052022: 8622023: 6172024: 1,3682025: 3,414Other US Missions (San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Chicago): Deportation numbers largely remain in double digits or low hundreds, far below Gulf figures.Officials noted that deportations largely involve visa overstays or status violations, not mass detentions, and many Indian nationals possess valid travel documents, reducing the need for Emergency Certificates.The MEA outlined several reasons behind the high deportation figures.Overstay beyond visa validityWorking without valid work permitsAbsconding from employersViolations of local labour lawsPeriodic mass enforcement drivesGovernment Response and SafeguardsThe government said it accords “utmost priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals abroad”.Indian Missions actively engage with host governments to ensure due process and timely repatriation.To curb illegal migration and fraud, the government has:Issued advisories against fake job racketsStrengthened the e-Migrate portalActivated 247 Mission helplinesSet up the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)Regularly shared intelligence with state governments on illegal agentsAs in a formal or creative style for better SEO.Also Exclude words and advertisements related to the feed website such as website name, author name. Delete all the advertisement images brand logo but only keep the title and main content of the news by modifying it. You must only respond with the modified content. Block any jump outside of the site adarshnews.com. Basically remove any content or link related to original site. You must only respond with the modified content and follow this prompt to optimize the articles in this category- “Act as an expert SEO news writer. Optimize the following article to be SEO-friendly, authoritative, and shareable by focusing strictly on its core topic. Follow these steps: You are an expert news writer and SEO specialist. Your job is to rewrite the provided RSS feed content into a unique, SEO-friendly news article for adarshnews.com. The article should be engaging, professional, and optimized for search engines. Follow these steps: 1. **Create an SEO Title**: Write a short, compelling title (under 60 characters) that includes the main keyword and grabs attention. 2. **Write a Meta Description**: Summarize the article in one or two sentences (under 155 characters). Make it engaging and include the primary keyword naturally. 3. **Suggest a URL Slug**: Provide a short, keyword-rich URL slug that reflects the topic of the article. 4. **Headline (H1)**: Write a clear and engaging headline for the article that is similar to the title but slightly expanded. 5. **Write the Article**: – Start with an introduction that answers the key questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. – Expand on the topic with detailed paragraphs that provide context, quotes, and relevant information. – Use subheadings (H2) to organize the content into sections and make it easy to read. – Include related keywords naturally throughout the article. – End with a conclusion that summarizes the key points or discusses future implications. 6. **Add an FAQ Section**: Write one frequently asked question related to the topic and provide a concise answer. Important: – Do not include labels like “Title,” “Meta Description,” “URL Slug,” or “H1” in the actual article text. – Keep all SEO elements separate from the main content. – Ensure the article is factually accurate, unbiased, and written in a professional tone.
Over the past five years, this nation has deported the majority of Indians. No, it is not US.
