US Military Plane Carrying 104 illegal Indian Migrants Lands In Amritsar

A US military C-17 transport aircraft carrying 104 Indians deported illegal immigration landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. This marks the first deportation under President Donald Trump’s second-term crackdown, which began following his assumption of office last month.

The US military aircraft landed at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport amid tight security. The deportees included 25 women and 12 minors, with the youngest passenger being just four years old. Out of the total 104 deportees, 30 were from Punjab.

On Tuesday, a US Embassy spokesperson stated that while specific details could not be disclosed, the United States is firmly enforcing its border and immigration laws. The spokesperson emphasized that the actions taken convey a "clear message" that illegal migration is not worth the risk.

"I have received a number of inquiries on the report of a deportation flight to India. I can't share any details on those inquiries, but I can share, on the record, that the United States is vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk," a US Embassy spokesperson said.

While addressing a press briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that it would facilitate the return of Indian nationals "overstaying" or residing without proper documentation in the United States or "anywhere in the world."

He said, "For Indians not just in the United States, but anywhere in the world, if they are Indian nationals and they are overstaying, or they are in a particular country without proper documentation, we will take them back, provided documents are shared with us so that we can verify their nationality and that they are indeed Indians. If that happens to be the case, we will take things forward and facilitate their return to India."

"We are against illegal immigration, especially because it is linked to several forms of organised crime," he further added.

A senior Punjab official said that most deportees from the state belong to Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Patiala, Mohali and Sangrur. Some of them had entered the US illegally, while others overstayed their visas.

They were deported on the C-17 plane that took off from San Antonio, Texas. This was the first round of deportation of illegal immigrants that coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington next week.

 

(With ANI, IANS inputs)