205 Indians Deported From US Arrive In Amritsar On Military Flight

A US military transport aircraft carrying 205 illegal Indian migrants landed in Amritsar on Wednesday afternoon.

The C-17 aircraft, which departed from San Antonio, Texas, around 3 am IST on February 4, was initially scheduled to land in Amritsar on Wednesday morning but faced delays. Most of the deportees are reportedly from Punjab and neighbouring states.

While the US Embassy in New Delhi did not directly comment on the deportation flight, a spokesperson stated that Washington is actively tightening immigration policies and sending out those individuals who are in the country illegally. This action comes as India and the US are finalizing details for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anticipated visit to Washington from February 12 to 13.

The Trump administration has already used military aircraft to deport illegal migrants to countries like Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras. India, however, is now the farthest destination to which the US has sent a military flight for deportations.

Following a phone conversation with PM Modi on January 27, President Trump expressed confidence that India "will do what is right" regarding the deportation of its citizens. Going by estimates, the US authorities have identified 18,000 illegal immigrants.

After Trump emerged victorious in the US Presidential polls, India has shown a willingness to cooperate with the US on this issue. The Indian government has been opposing illegal immigration due to its ties to organized crime and other security concerns.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal recently stated that India is prepared to take back its citizens who have overstayed or lack proper documentation, provided the US shares the necessary details to verify their nationality.

However, Jaiswal cautioned that it would be "premature" to speculate on the total number of illegal Indian immigrants in the US. This isn't the first instance of such deportations-last October, the US used a chartered flight to send back Indian nationals staying illegally in the country.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reiterated its commitment to enforcing immigration laws and imposing strict consequences on those who violate them. As the Trump administration continues its crackdown, this deportation flight underscores the growing collaboration between the US and India on immigration issues, even as diplomatic ties between the two nations deepen.