Earlier this week, the US military C-17 transport aircraft landed at Punjab's Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, deporting 104 handcuffed and chained undocumented Indian immigrants.
Amid the political uproar surrounding the deportation, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar claimed in the Parliament on February 6 that the Indian government is "actively engaging" with the Donald Trump administration to ensure dignified treatment of the deported Indians.
What Will Happen to the Indian Deportees?
According to reports, the passengers on the aircraft included Indian nationals belonging to Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Chandigarh. Among the deportees, there were 25 women and 12 minors.
On February 6, United States Customs and Border Protection Chief Michael W. Banks posted a video of deporting illegal Indian migrants. Have a look:
USBP and partners successfully returned illegal aliens to India, marking the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport. This mission underscores our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and ensuring swift removals.
— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) February 5, 2025
If you cross illegally, you will be removed. pic.twitter.com/WW4OWYzWOf
Senior advocate and Delhi Bar Council Chairman KK Manan told India Today that deported citizens won't face any legal action in India unless they use fake documents. He further explained that as long as they had valid Indian passports and used legitimate travel documents, there would be no legal consequences.
However, if someone used a fake passport or altered details for the 'Dunki' route, they could face prosecution under the Passport Act.
Can the Deportees Go Back to the US?
VIDEO | Punjab: US aircraft carrying deported Indian immigrants lands at Amritsar Airport.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 5, 2025
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/Lza2pRDvvg
The official US Embassy website states that a person who has been deported or removed may be barred from reapplying for a visa for up to ten years, depending on the situation. However, in some cases, a waiver of this restriction may be possible.
The US State Department website states that individuals deported as 'illegal aliens' are ineligible to apply for a visa for a minimum of five years, with various admissibility conditions specified.
Will There Be Legal Action Against Travel Agents?
Former Punjab AG Atul Nanda noted that the focus should be on prosecuting the travel agencies responsible for sending people on illegal routes, noting that most deported individuals are likely semi-literate and unlikely to have created fake documents themselves.
In addition, advocate Manan told India Today, "The hammer should now fall on the travel agents who have sent them illegally after taking lakhs from them. It’s the right of every country to deport illegal immigrants."
Donald Trump's Crackdown On Immigrants
US President Donald Trump, who took office on January 20, promised to combat illegal immigration during his campaign. Since then, he declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border, and US military planes have deported migrants to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras. India was one of the farthest destinations for these deportations.