US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that India will handle the deportation of illegal migrants appropriately, following a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The phone call, held on Monday, marked the leaders’ first interaction since Trump’s recent inauguration.
The White House described the discussion as “productive,” covering immigration, security, and trade. Trump indicated that Modi might visit the US in February.
Since taking office, Trump has issued several immigration-related executive orders aimed at curbing undocumented migration in the United States. Estimates from the Pew Research Center indicate that approximately 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants reside in the US as of 2024.
India’s foreign ministry recently stated its willingness to accept Indian nationals overstaying in foreign countries, provided their documents are verified. During the phone call, both leaders discussed various aspects of the bilateral relationship, including technology, investment, energy, defense, and trade.
The conversation also touched on regional security issues in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. Trump emphasized India’s role in increasing the procurement of US-made security equipment and fostering a balanced trade relationship.
Modi later referred to Trump as a “dear friend” in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and reaffirmed their commitment to a trusted partnership. Both leaders highlighted their support for advancing the strategic partnership between their nations, particularly through the Indo-Pacific Quad, which includes India, the US, Japan, and Australia.l
India is set to host Quad leaders later this year, underscoring its growing role in regional security and cooperation.
Trump and Modi shared a strong rapport during the former US president’s first term (2017–2021), although their relationship was marked by a contentious tariff war that impacted businesses in both countries.
Analysts note that the cordiality between the two leaders could play a crucial role in addressing challenges related to trade and immigration, making their future collaborations worth observing.
