Amritsar: Women and children onboard the second deportation flight from the US, which landed in Amritsar on February 15, were not restrained during the journey, sources confirmed.
Shortly after, a third deportation flight carrying Indian nationals who had allegedly entered the US illegally also arrived in Amritsar on Sunday.
Punjab CM Assures Proper Treatment
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured that deportees would be treated well, with necessary arrangements already in place.
“Our children are returning home. No one will go hungry. We have made arrangements for food and accommodation. They will stay for a few hours before traveling to their respective states. The Ministry of External Affairs has already booked flights for them,” CM Mann stated in a press conference.
Mann Questions Amritsar as Deportation Hub
CM Mann criticized the central government, alleging a conspiracy to defame Punjab.
“Why is every deportation flight landing in Amritsar? The MEA must clarify the criteria for selecting Amritsar as the destination,” he asserted.
His statement comes after the first deportation flight landed in Amritsar on February 5, carrying Indian citizens deported by US authorities.
PM Modi on Deportation and Human Trafficking
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s stance on taking back nationals living illegally abroad, emphasizing the need to dismantle human trafficking networks.
“India is ready to take back its verified citizens living illegally in the US. However, our bigger fight is against human trafficking. We must destroy this entire system that misguides innocent people with false promises,” PM Modi said in a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump.
He expressed confidence in Trump’s cooperation in tackling illegal migration and human trafficking.
US-India Coordination on Illegal Migration
The deportations highlight increasing US-India cooperation in addressing illegal migration and human trafficking. The US has been actively deporting undocumented immigrants, while India has been working on repatriation efforts.
As the return of Indian nationals continues, officials stress the importance of creating awareness about the risks of illegal migration and strengthening bilateral efforts to prevent human smuggling.
