A US military aircraft carrying 205 Indian nationals deported for illegal immigration landed in Amritsar today. The C-17 plane had taken off from Texas the day before as part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration.
Media reports said that each deported individual was “verified,” suggesting that New Delhi played a role in the verification process. This marks what is likely the first of many deportation flights, aimed at returning illegal Indian immigrants back to India.
Since taking office, Trump has ramped up efforts to deport illegal immigrants. Previously, the US military has flown immigrants back to countries like Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras.
This first round of deportations comes amid reports of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the US, which will be his first since Trump’s second term began. During his visit, Trump mentioned that Modi assured him India would “do what’s right” regarding the return of illegal Indian immigrants. According to Bloomberg News, both countries have identified around 18,000 Indian nationals who entered the US illegally.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, has expressed that India is open to the “legitimate return” of its citizens living illegally abroad, including in the US.
“For the first time in history, we are locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came,” Trump stated last month.
India has consistently expressed its opposition to illegal immigration, particularly because it is often linked to organized crime.
Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “If Indians are overstaying or residing illegally in any country, we will facilitate their return, provided the necessary documentation is shared to verify their nationality.”
A spokesperson for the US Embassy in New Delhi confirmed that the US is strictly enforcing immigration laws, adding that “these actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk.”
