Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit U.S. President Donald Trump as early as next week, following reports that India has begun cooperating with the U.S. to repatriate illegal immigrants. The visit marks one of the first official meetings between the two leaders since Trump’s inauguration last month.
In a phone call with Trump on January 27, Modi confirmed plans to travel to Washington, with the U.S. president noting that Modi would likely visit in February. The Indian leader’s upcoming trip is expected to be one of the first major diplomatic engagements with the new U.S. administration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to meet Trump at the White House on January 30.
Modi’s visit comes as the Trump administration ramps up its crackdown on illegal immigration, a central focus of his presidency. The U.S. has started deporting undocumented Indian immigrants, with American military planes transporting the first group of deportees. An unnamed U.S. official confirmed that a military aircraft had already left for India carrying migrants, though it would not arrive for another 24 hours.
The escalation in deportations is part of Trump’s broader strategy to curb illegal immigration, which includes shutting down the asylum system for undocumented individuals and deploying the military to assist with repatriations. In recent weeks, U.S. military aircraft have flown approximately 5,000 migrants from detention facilities in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California, back to their home countries, including Guatemala, Honduras, and Peru.
As part of this effort, India has agreed to work with the U.S. in identifying and repatriating its citizens who are living illegally in the country. The Indian government has already identified at least 18,000 undocumented individuals, according to sources familiar with the matter. With an estimated 725,000 undocumented Indian migrants in the U.S., India represents the third-largest group of unauthorized immigrants, following Mexico and El Salvador.
The deportation agreement comes as the U.S. and India face growing tensions over trade issues. President Trump has long criticized India’s high tariffs, arguing that they hurt American businesses. In response, Trump has threatened to impose reciprocal duties on Indian goods, stating, “If they tax us, we tax them the same amount.” The U.S. president has also warned of a 100% import tariff on countries within the BRICS bloc, including India, should they attempt to replace the American dollar in international trade.
Despite these challenges, Modi and Trump shared a warm relationship during Trump’s first term (2016-2020). Both leaders celebrated their personal rapport at major public events, including rallies in Ahmedabad and Houston, and Modi’s BJP party welcomed Trump’s 2020 election victory. However, tensions over trade have simmered, with Modi’s government reluctant to adjust its tariff policies.
The upcoming meeting between Modi and Trump is likely to focus on a range of issues, including trade, immigration, and geopolitical concerns in Asia. India’s relationship with the U.S. has strengthened under President Joe Biden as well, even as the two countries face diplomatic hurdles, including accusations related to a Sikh separatist leader’s assassination and disagreements over India’s ties with Russia in the context of the Ukraine conflict.
Both countries see the other as a critical partner in counterbalancing the growing influence of China in the region. The U.S. and India, along with Australia and Japan, are members of the Quad grouping, which seeks to promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.
