The much-awaited US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants, including 13 children, landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. This deportation comes as part of former US President Donald Trump’s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration, which began on his first day in office on January 20th. This is the first instance of Indian illegal immigrants being deported en masse from the US.

The Arrival in India 104 Illegal Indian Immigrants

The C-17 US military aircraft, which took off from San Antonio, Texas, landed at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport at 1:59 PM. Officials from the police and civil administration were present to receive the deportees, along with a representative from the US Embassy.

Among the 104 Illegal Indian Immigrants deported individuals, 79 were men and 25 were women. The breakdown of their home states reveals that 33 are from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh.

The Journey and the Deportation Process

According to sources, most of these deported individuals were caught at the US-Mexico border while attempting to enter the country illegally through what is commonly referred to as the “donkey route.” While they had used legal means to leave India, their attempt to enter the US illegally led to their deportation. However, as per Indian law, these individuals are not considered offenders and cannot be arrested since they have not violated any Indian legal provisions.

Authorities have stated that if the deportees lack proper documentation, they will be identified using biometric records. Initial reports had suggested that around 200 Indians were on board the military aircraft, but it was later confirmed that only 104 Illegal Indian Immigrants individuals were deported in this operation.

Reaction and Concerns

Kulp Singh Daral, the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Affairs Minister of Punjab, expressed his disappointment over the US government’s decision. He announced that he would meet India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss the issue. Daral argued that these individuals, who have contributed to the US economy, should have been granted permanent residency instead of being deported. He also pointed out that many Indians initially entered the US on valid work permits, but their visas expired, turning them into undocumented immigrants.

The Larger Picture: Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

Former President Donald Trump had pledged to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has compiled a list of nearly 18,000 undocumented Indian nationals among a total of 1.5 million individuals marked for deportation.

As per reports, approximately 705,000 illegal immigrants from India currently reside in the US, making it the third-largest population of unauthorized immigrants after Mexico and El Salvador. The US has already deported migrants to countries such as Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras, and deportation operations are expected to continue in the coming weeks.

Conclusion

The deportation of 104 illegal Indian immigrants marks a significant moment in US-India immigration relations. While some view it as a necessary step to enforce immigration laws, others argue that these individuals deserved a chance at legal residency. As deportation efforts continue, the fate of thousands of undocumented Indian immigrants in the US remains uncertain. The Indian government’s response and potential negotiations with the US will determine how future deportation cases are handled.