US Deports 119 Indians; Flight to Land in Amritsar

Among the 119 deportees, 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. Another US aircraft carrying additional deportees is expected to land on February 16.

This development follows last week’s arrival of a US military aircraft at Amritsar carrying 104 illegal immigrants – 30 from Punjab and 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat. Many of the Punjab deportees had hoped to secure a better future in the US for their families, only to be apprehended at the border.

Since assuming office, President Trump’s administration has intensified its efforts against illegal immigration, leading to heightened deportation activities. Migrants from Punjab and other states, who often use risky “donkey routes” or pay lakhs to enter the US illegally, are now facing repatriation.

Punjab political leaders have criticised the decision to land the US aircraft in Amritsar. “The BJP-led Central government wants to defame Punjab. Why not land in Gujarat, Haryana, or Delhi?” Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said. In response, the Punjab government has formed a special investigation team to probe illegal human trafficking following the deportations. The team has registered 10 FIRs against fraudulent immigration consultants, according to a senior police official.