India, July 17 -- The US deported a total of 1,563 Indian nationals between January and July this year, and the latest batch was sent back by American authorities last week, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday.

Most of the Indian nationals were deported on commercial flights, Jaiswal told a weekly media briefing. He said 1,563 Indians were deported from the US between January 20 and July 15.

The deportations occur only after the Indian nationality of the people are confirmed. The US authorities provide lists of people to be deported and the Indian side then confirms their nationality, he said.

"People have been coming in batches on commercial flights. Last week also, we had people who came back," Jai...