US Deports 3rd batch of illegal Indian Immigrants, Flight lands in Amritsar
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A plane carrying 112 Indians deported from the United States landed in Amritsar on Sunday night marking the third such arrival in just 10 days due to the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigrants. The US Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft touched down at Amritsar International Airport at around 10:03 pm, according to sources.
The deportees, who include 31 from Punjab, 44 from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, two from Uttar Pradesh and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were received by their families at the airport. After completing immigration, verification, and background checks, they will be allowed to travel to their homes. Arrangements have been made to transport the deportees to their destinations.
This marks the third deportation flight following the first round on February 5, when 104 Indians were brought back, and a second flight carrying 116 deportees that landed on Saturday. The first deportation sparked a political storm when it was revealed that the deportees were shackled and restrained throughout the flight, a practice that drew significant criticism. Similar allegations of mistreatment were made by those returned on Saturday.
In response to the criticism, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the government is engaging with the US to ensure the deportees are treated humanely. He added that deportations of illegal migrants by the US are not a new development and have been happening for years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the US earlier this week, stated that India would take back any of its citizens living illegally in the US but emphasized the need to combat human trafficking.
The US Embassy in India defended the deportations, saying enforcing immigration laws is essential for national security and public safety. It reiterated that the US has a policy of executing immigration laws against inadmissible and removable aliens.
India is the third-largest source of undocumented immigrants in the US, after Mexico and El Salvador. Many deportees, particularly from Punjab, previously sought better opportunities in the US for their families but their dreams were dashed when they were apprehended at the US border and sent back under restraint.
