Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar on Wednesday afternoon. This marks the first mass deportation of Indian nationals under the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
The number of deportees from Punjab stands at 30, while 33 each hail from Haryana and Gujarat, followed by three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh, according to PTI sources. Earlier reports suggested that 205 Indians were being deported, though official confirmation is awaited.
The C-17 military aircraft landed at 1:55 PM amid tight security measures implemented by the Punjab Police. Authorities, including the Amritsar airport director, deputy commissioner, commissioner of police, and CIF director, held a high-level meeting ahead of the flight’s arrival. Police barricaded the cargo gate and other entry points to ensure security.
🔹 Trump-Modi Talks on Immigration Led to Deportation
• The deportation comes just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, where he is set to meet President Donald Trump.
• Immigration was a key discussion point in their recent talks, with Trump emphasizing the need for India to take back its illegal migrants.
• “Discussed immigration with Modi. India will do what is right when it comes to taking back illegal immigrants,”Trump had stated.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also assured the US of cooperating in tackling illegal immigration.
• MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India does not support illegal immigration, especially due to its links to organized crime.
🔹 400% Surge in Indian Deportations from the US
• US immigration enforcement has significantly increased deportations of Indian nationals, witnessing a 400% surge in three years.
• According to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) report, 1,529 Indians were deported in 2024, compared to just 292 in 2021.
• One Indian national was deported every six hours in 2024 as part of the US government’s intensified immigration enforcement.
• Bloomberg reported last month that the US and India have identified around 18,000 Indian nationals for deportation, though the actual number may be much higher.
• Despite the rising numbers, Indians accounted for only 3% of all illegal border crossings into the US in fiscal year 2024, according to US Customs and Border Protection data.
