On Wednesday, a US military C-17 aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants arrived at Amritsar, Punjab. The flight, which took off from Texas, marked the first batch of deportees under a new US initiative to send back illegal immigrants. The aircraft arrived amid tight security at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport.
Deportees from Various Indian States
The highest number of deportees came from Haryana and Gujarat, with 30 people each from these states. Punjab had 30 deportees, while the remaining passengers hailed from Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, and other regions. Among the deportees, 25 were women and 12 were minors, with the youngest being just four years old. Forty-eight of the deported individuals were below the age of 25.
Illegal Immigrants from Punjab and Their Routes
Many of the deportees from Punjab came from districts like Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Jalandhar. These individuals had either entered the US illegally or overstayed their visas. Some had used the "donkey route" or other means to cross the border, spending large sums to reach the US.
US Crackdown Under Trump Administration
This deportation marks part of the US's broader crackdown on illegal immigrants, a policy that gained momentum during Donald Trump's presidency. According to estimates, around 725,000 illegal Indian immigrants live in the US, with Punjab having a significant share. India has expressed readiness to accept these migrants after verification.
Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal criticised the deportation, arguing that these individuals had contributed to the US economy and deserved permanent residency instead of deportation.