India has reaffirmed its stance on supporting legal migration, emphasising its commitment to repatriating its nationals from any part of the world, provided their Indian nationality is verified.

The statement comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s directive for government agencies to take swift action to "immediately repel, repatriate, and remove" undocumented immigrants. This directive, part of a broader initiative to address what Trump referred to as an "invasion" at the southern border, has led to the deportation of hundreds of migrants and the arrest of 538 individuals in a large-scale crackdown.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted New Delhi’s firm opposition to illegal immigration, particularly due to its association with various forms of organized crime.

“For Indians not just in the United States, but anywhere in the world, if they are Indian nationals and they are overstaying, or they are in a particular country without proper documentation, we will take them back provided documents are shared with us so that we can verify their nationality and that they are indeed Indians," Jaiswal said.

He was also asked about ongoing discussions regarding the return of illegal immigrants from the US and whether this would affect India’s commerce and industrial ties.

"Illegal migration and trade are two separate issues. Our approach, policy, and stance on illegal migration are very clear. We are against illegal migration because it is linked to organised crime," said Jaiswal.

Irregular migration emerged as a key issue during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first bilateral meeting with India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar.

When questioned about President Trump’s tariff threats, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised the strength of the U.S.-India partnership, describing the economic ties between the two nations as “very special” and reflective of a robust, multifaceted relationship.

Speaking about the upcoming visit of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to China, Jaiswal said, “The visit is scheduled for January 26 and 27. The Foreign Secretary will meet his counterpart, the Vice Minister in China, where all issues of bilateral interest will be discussed.”

He explained: “This meeting follows the understanding reached by the leaders in Kazan, and since then, we’ve had meetings at the special representatives' level, as well as foreign minister-level discussions. We will provide a readout of what was discussed after the meetings, but all issues of mutual interest will be addressed.”

Addressing a query on border fencing along the Bangladesh border, the MEA spokesperson stated that the initiative aims to address challenges such as human smuggling, cattle smuggling, and other illegal activities, with the ultimate goal of establishing a “crime-free” border.

“Our understanding is that Bangladesh will approach this positively and complement our efforts. We aim to create a crime-free border by addressing issues like human smuggling, cattle smuggling, and other criminal activities," he said.

Amid reports that Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun attended the inauguration event of U.S. President Donald Trump, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced during its weekly media briefing that the issue would be taken up with the United States. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India consistently raises concerns with the U.S. government whenever any anti-India activities are observed on its soil.