On Saturday, a US military transport aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster III, is scheduled to land at Amritsar International Airport, carrying approximately 119 Indian nationals. According to the media reports, this follows the earlier deportation of 104 individuals, marking another phase in the US government’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Deportations will stay continue every other week till all illegal immigrants get back to their home countries, according to the media reports. The deportees comprise 67 persons from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Rajasthan and Maharashtra, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, according to the media reports.
Their removal is part of an ongoing crackdown by US immigration authorities on individuals who entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas. The deportations come in the wake of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States, where he met President Donald Trump to discuss key bilateral issues, including immigration.
During a joint press conference, PM Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to verified Indian nationals while stressing the need to take action against human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable migrants. The treatment of deported Indians, who arrived in handcuffs and shackles, created a major controversy in India.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) defends the treatment as a security protocol used on deportation flights to prevent escape attempts. However, critics argue that the practice is excessive, especially for individuals who have committed no crimes beyond immigration violations. The issue led to heated debates in the Indian Parliament, with the opposition leaders demanding a formal inquiry into the deportation process and the treatment of returnees.
In response to growing concerns, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has assured that India is involved with US officials to ensure deportees are treated with dignity. He emphasised that while immigration laws must be upheld, humane treatment should not be compromised
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