119 Indians Deported From US Arrive in Amritsar
A plane carrying 119 Indians landed at Punjab’s Amritsar airport on Saturday, February 22, 2024. This is the second arrival of its kind in just 10 days. These deportations are part of the Trump administration’s stricter [[immigration]] policies and crackdown on people living in the US without proper documents. The first deportation flight brought 104 Indians back to Amritsar on February 5, and a third plane with 157 more is expected on Sunday.
Details of the Deportations
The US Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster aircraft touched down at Amritsar International Airport around 11:40 pm on Saturday. Out of the 119 people on board, 67 are from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Many families were at the airport to meet their loved ones.
The earlier group deported on February 5 included 33 people from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh each, and two from Chandigarh. They were flown back on the same military aircraft from San Antonio, Texas.
Controversy Surrounding the Deportations
These deportations have caused a lot of discussion and anger in India. The way the deportees were treated during the flight, shackled and restrained until they reached India, caused an uproar in the Indian Parliament during the Budget session. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured that the Indian government is working with the US to make sure such treatment doesn’t happen again. He pointed out that the US has been deporting undocumented immigrants for years, and this isn’t something new.
Prime Minister Modi’s Stance
During his recent US visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is ready to accept its citizens living illegally in the US. However, he stressed the need to tackle human trafficking, expressing confidence that President Trump would cooperate with India in this effort.
US Justification and Punjab Chief Minister’s Response
The US Embassy in India defended the deportations, saying they are crucial for national security and public safety. They stated that it is their policy to enforce immigration laws against all those who are inadmissible or removable.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited Amritsar airport and said his government is helping those from Punjab get back to their homes. Those from other states will fly to Delhi on Sunday and then travel to their respective states.
Mr. Mann criticized the central government for using Amritsar as a “deport centre” and requested them to reconsider this decision. Many of those deported from Punjab had hoped for a better life in the US for their families. Their dreams were shattered when they were apprehended at the US border.
India’s Position as a Source of Undocumented Immigrants
India is currently the third largest source of undocumented immigrants in the US, after Mexico and El Salvador. These recent deportations highlight the ongoing challenges related to immigration between the two countries.
