India will do the right thing: Trump on repatriation of illegal immigrants after phone call with Modi

Modi on Monday spoke to Trump for the first time since the 78-year-old Republican leader returned to office.

The Indian prime minister posted on X, "Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. Congratulated him on his historic second term. We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security."

Speaking to reporters, Trump said India will do "what is right" when it comes to taking back illegal immigrants.

The US president also said Modi is likely to visit the White House in February. 

Trump, who returned to power with a massive mandate in November 5 last year elections, launched a major crackdown on illegal immigration and said he will take steps to secure the US borders.

He said in his inaugural address as the president, "All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came."

Earlier, India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who had attended Trump's oath-taking ceremony, cleared his country is open to the legitimate return of its nationals who are illegally living in America.

Addressing a press conference in Washington, Jaishankar had said, "We have always taken the view that if there are any of our citizens, who are not here legally, if we are sure that they are our citizens, we have always been open to their legitimate return to India. So it's not a position unique to the US."

"I understand right now that there is a certain debate going on and a resulting sensitivity which is there. But we have been consistent, we have been very principled about it, and that remains our position, and I conveyed that very clearly to US State Secretary Marco Rubio."

In an official statement, the White House said Trump held a "productive call" with Modi and the two leaders discussed "expanding and deepening cooperation".

Trump and Modi discussed "a range of regional issues, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe".

The statement reads, "The President emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship.

"The leaders discussed plans for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House, underscoring the strength of the friendship and strategic ties between our nations."

"Both leaders emphasized their commitment to advance the U.S.-India strategic partnership and the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership, with India hosting Quad Leaders for the first time later this year," it added.