A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying 112 Indian deportees landed at Amritsar International Airport on Sunday night at around 10:03 pm. This marks the third such deportation in just 10 days as part of the US government’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Breakdown of Deportees
According to sources, the deportees belong to different Indian states:
- Punjab – 31
- Haryana – 44
- Gujarat – 33
- Uttar Pradesh – 2
- Himachal Pradesh – 1
- Uttarakhand – 1
Some of their families arrived at the airport to receive them. The deportees will be allowed to return home after immigration clearance, verification, and background checks. Arrangements for their transportation have also been made, sources confirmed.
US Deportation Crackdown Intensifies
This is the third round of deportations in a short span:
- February 5: First batch of 104 deportees arrived in Amritsar.
- February 10: A second flight brought back 116 Indians.
- February 18: The latest batch of 112 deportees landed in Amritsar.
During the first deportation, reports surfaced that the returnees were shackled throughout the flight and freed only upon landing. Similar allegations of ill-treatment have emerged from the latest batch.
Political Reactions and India’s Response
The treatment of deportees has sparked political controversy in India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured that the Indian government is in discussions with US authorities to ensure humane treatment of deportees. He emphasized that deportation of illegal migrants is not a new phenomenon and has been happening for years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent US visit, stated that India will accept the return of its illegal immigrants but also called for stronger measures to combat human trafficking.
“Our bigger fight is against the entire ecosystem, and we are confident that President Trump will fully cooperate with India in dismantling it,” PM Modi said.
US Justifies Deportations
Defending its actions, the US Embassy in India stated that enforcing immigration laws is crucial for national security.
“It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens,” said a US Embassy spokesperson.
India Among Top Sources of Undocumented Immigrants
India ranks third in terms of undocumented immigrants in the US, following Mexico and El Salvador. Many deportees, especially from Punjab, had migrated in search of a better future but were caught at the US border and sent back.