New Delhi: Canada deported 3,323 Indian nationals in the first six months of 2026, nearly three times the 1,273 Indians deported by the United States between January 1 and July 22.
The Canadian figure was recorded in just six months, while the US data cover almost seven months.
According to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) data, the number of Indians deported between January and June this year was nearly 88 per cent of the total removed during the whole of 2025.
Canada deported 3,779 Indian nationals in 2025, the highest figure recorded in a year. If the current trend continues, the number could cross last year’s total and set a new annual record, as reported by The New Indian Express.
In comparison, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said 1,273 Indian nationals were deported from the US between January 1 and July 22, 2026.
The US deported 3,567 Indians during the whole of 2025. It was the highest annual figure since 2011. Before that, the highest number was recorded in 2004, when 1,368 Indians were deported from the US.
The sharp difference between the figures comes as both Canada and the US have stepped up immigration enforcement.
Canada has been tightening its immigration system and trying to reduce the number of temporary residents. These include international students and temporary foreign workers.
The government has also increased action against people who no longer have legal permission to stay in the country.
Indians were the largest group among people deported from Canada during the first half of 2026. They overtook Mexicans, who accounted for 1,573 removals.
Mexico had been the top nationality in Canada’s removal figures in each of the previous five years. India had remained in second place during that period.
India was last the largest nationality group among people removed from Canada in 2020. That year, 1,424 Indian nationals were deported.
The number declined after 2020 but began rising again in the following years. Canada deported 603 Indians in 2021, 786 in 2022, 1,132 in 2023 and 2,004 in 2024.
The figure rose sharply to 3,779 in 2025 before reaching 3,323 in the first six months of 2026.
People can be removed from Canada for several reasons. These include breaking immigration rules, having an asylum or refugee claim rejected, overstaying a visa and committing immigration or visa fraud.
However, the CBSA keeps the reasons for removal in a separate database. It does not provide a country-wise breakup of the reasons.
As a result, it is not possible to say how many Indian nationals were removed for each specific reason.
A large number of Indian nationals are also still waiting to be removed from Canada.
CBSA data show that 7,669 Indian nationals were listed in the country’s “removal in progress inventory”. This was the highest number for any nationality in the list.
Canada generally uses three types of removal orders.
A departure order asks a person to leave Canada voluntarily, usually within 30 days. If the person does not leave within that period, the order automatically becomes a deportation order.
An exclusion order stops a person from returning to Canada for a fixed period. This ban usually lasts between one and five years.
A deportation order permanently prevents a person from returning to Canada. The person can return only after receiving written permission from the Canadian government.
The increase in deportations comes as Canada reviews its immigration policy.
For several years, the country saw rapid population growth, partly because of a large increase in temporary residents and international migrants.
The Canadian government has now introduced steps to reduce the temporary resident population. It has also tightened eligibility rules and increased checks against people who violate immigration conditions.
Canada is seeking a more controlled immigration system and wants migration to better match the country’s economic and social needs.
The United States has also intensified immigration enforcement and deportations under President Donald Trump.