Amritsar: A US military transport aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster III, carrying 119 illegal Indian immigrants is set to land at Amritsar International Airport on Saturday. Among the total deportees, 67 are from Punjab, reported news agency PTI citing sources.
Meanwhile, 33 is reportedly from Haryana,eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Rajasthan and Maharashtra, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The deportation is part of the US crackdown on illegal immeigrants after Donald Trump became the President.
It is the second plane of Indian deportees that will land in Amritsar this month. Earlier on February 5, 104 illegal Indian immigrants were sent back to India. Out of these total deportees, 33 immigrants hailed from Gujarat and Haryana, 30 from Punjab three from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, respectively and two from Chandigarh.
According to reports, the third flight of Indian deportees will also land in Amritsar on Sunday, February 16.
The deportations come in the immediate wake of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States, where he met President Donald Trump to discuss key bilateral issues, including immigration.
During a joint press conference, PM Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to repatriating verified Indian nationals while stressing the need to combat human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable migrants.
Opposition Slammed Government Over Treatment Of Indian Deportees By US Authorities:
Notably, the treatment of deported Indians, who arrived in handcuffs and shackles, sparked a major controversy in India. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) defended the treatment as a standard security protocol used on deportation flights to prevent escape attempts or disruptions.
However, critics argue that the practice is excessive and inhumane, especially for individuals who have committed no crimes beyond immigration violations.
The issue led to heated debates in the Indian Parliament, with opposition leaders demanding a formal inquiry into the deportation process and the treatment of returnees.
EAM S Jaishankar's Response In Parliament:
In response to growing concerns, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has assured that India is engaging with US officials to ensure deportees are treated with dignity. He emphasised that while immigration laws must be upheld, humane treatment should not be compromised.
The Trump administration's strict immigration policies continue to affect thousands of Indian nationals, placing pressure on the Indian government to manage reintegration efforts while addressing the broader challenge of irregular migration.
Punjab Chief Minister Objected To Planes With Illegal Immigrants Landing In Amritsar:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann slammed the Centre over the deportation of Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the United States, and said that Amritsar is being chosen deliberately to portray that only Punjabis are illegal migrants.
CM Mann claimed on Friday that the second plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US will land in Amritsar on Saturday.
He also highlighted that Pakistan, an enemy country of India, is very near to Amritsar, posing a threat.
"There is a conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabis. The first plane landed in Amritsar. Now, a second plane (carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US) will land in Amritsar. The MEA should tell the criteria based on which Amritsar was selected to land the aircraft. You select Amritsar to defame Punjab. At the time when PM Modi and (US President) Trump were meeting, they (US authorities) must have been putting shackles on our people. Is this the gift Trump has given? America's military planes are landing in Amritsar, and an enemy country, Pakistan, is right next to it. Lahore is 40 km from there. What kind of foreign policy is this?" the Punjab CM said as reported BY ANI.
He questioned the Centre as to why Ahmedabad or any other place was not chosen.