Immigration storm hits Punjab: Police launch statewide crackdown, panic spreads
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a move aligned with US President Donald Trump's aggressive stance on illegal immigration a US military C-17 aircraft carrying 205 Indian migrants is heading towards India expected to land at Amritsar International Airport at 9 a.m. today. Among these deportees, individuals with criminal records are likely to face immediate arrest upon arrival. This development follows a meeting in Washington last month between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during which concerns were raised about 'irregular migration.' In response the Trump administration has ramped up efforts to send illegal immigrants back to their home countries, using military aircraft for deportations and opening military bases to temporarily house deportees.
This marks a continuation of the deportation effort, which has seen US military flights carrying migrants to countries like Guatemala, Peru and Honduras. The deportation of Indian migrants is timely, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the US where he is set to meet President Trump on February 12 or 13. At Amritsar Airport the documents of all returning migrants will undergo thorough checks particularly focusing on criminal backgrounds. Those with criminal records will be arrested immediately. This process could take the whole day. Some deportees may have committed crimes in India prior to migrating to the US.
The US embassy has confirmed that it is tightening immigration policies, with the first round of deportations of illegal Indian migrants beginning just weeks after Trump's second-term inauguration. Trump has pledged to take a tough approach to immigration, signing multiple executive orders to enhance his administration’s policies. In the broader context, the US's continued tough stance on immigration has sparked mixed reactions. While it’s seen as a necessary measure to combat illegal migration, many argue that it’s leading to inhumane conditions for those affected. With the ongoing deportations and heightened scrutiny of migrants the situation remains a poignant issue in US-India relations.
