New Delhi, Aug. 1 -- The US has deported more than 4,800 Indian nationals since 2025, including 1,273 people who were sent back between January and July this year, the external affairs ministry said on Friday. The US administration has stepped up the deportation of illegal migrants from across the world as part of a crackdown that began soon after President Donald Trump took office last year. The number of Indians deported from the US last year was the highest in the past 16 years, according to figures provided by the government in Parliament in 2025. "The total number of Indians deported from the US to India in 2026, from January 1 till date, is 1,273. In 2025, a total of 3,567 Indian nationals were deported from the US," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing. Responding to a question on the number of Indians sent back by the US, Jaiswal said India is working with several foreign governments on deportation issues. "As and when such issues are referred to us, we conduct due diligence on our side to confirm the nationality of the person being referred for deportation. Once we are fully satisfied that the person concerned is of Indian nationality, only then we facilitate their return to India," he said. Jaiswal responded to a separate question on a new bill cleared by the US Senate that would give Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, such as China and India, by saying that India is closely monitoring the situation. India is pursuing the issue of the release of around two dozen Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army with authorities in Moscow, the external affairs ministry said on Friday said against the backdrop of the Supreme Court hearing a petition filed by the kin of youths lured into military service in Russia. Over 30 Indians have died so far while serving with the Russian military on the frontlines of the conflict in Ukraine....