US Deportation Flight Lands In Amritsar, Marking New Phase In Immigration Crackdown

A US military C-17 transport aircraft touched down at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar on Wednesday, marking the first deportation of Indian migrants under President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown. The aircraft, which took off from San Antonio, Texas, carried 205 illegal migrants primarily from Punjab and neighboring states, as reported by The Tribune.

Upon arrival in Amritsar, the deportees will undergo a thorough verification of their documents. However, officials have clarified that no immediate directions have been issued to detain these migrants. Instead, all necessary checks will be conducted to ensure proper identification before they are allowed to leave the airport.

The Trump administration has previously utilized military aircraft for deporting illegal migrants to countries such as Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras. With this latest flight, India emerges as the furthest destination for such deportations, indicating a new phase in the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.

The deportation flight coincides with ongoing discussions between the US and India regarding a potential visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington on February 12-13. A spokesperson for the US embassy declined to comment on specific details regarding the deportation flight, but emphasized that the United States is “vigorously” enforcing its border security measures and tightening immigration laws. “These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk,” the official stated.

India has expressed its willingness to collaborate with Washington on addressing illegal immigration concerns. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India opposes illegal immigration due to its association with organized crime. Jaiswal further assured that New Delhi would accept back all Indians who have overstayed or are residing in the US without proper documentation, contingent upon the verification of their nationality.

Following a phone conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi on January 27, Trump indicated confidence that India “will do what is right” regarding the deportation of illegal migrants. Current estimates suggest that around 18,000 illegal immigrants from India have been identified by American authorities for deportation, underscoring the scale of the issue as both nations navigate their immigration policies in an evolving geopolitical landscape.