A US military plane carrying 205 deported Indians has landed in Amritsar. The C-17 aircraft departed from a Texas airport. Sources indicate each deportee’s identity was verified, suggesting Indian government cooperation. This is expected to be the first of many such deportation flights.
President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration began immediately after his inauguration. Previously, US military aircraft have repatriated deportees to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras.
This first wave of Indian deportations comes as Prime Minister Modi prepares for a US visit next weekâhis first since Trump’s re-election. President Trump stated Prime Minister Modi assured him India would cooperate in repatriating illegal immigrants. A Bloomberg News report cites 18,000 Indian migrants identified as being in the US illegally.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar affirmed India’s willingness to facilitate the “legitimate return” of Indian nationals residing illegally abroad, including in the US.
President Trump previously announced the use of military aircraft for deportations, stating, “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.”
The Ministry of External Affairs opposes illegal immigration, citing its links to organized crime. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified India’s commitment to repatriating Indian nationals overstaying visas or residing undocumented abroad, provided verification is possible.
A US Embassy spokesperson in New Delhi emphasized the US’s commitment to stronger border enforcement, stricter immigration laws, and the removal of illegal migrants, stating, “These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk.”
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