US Military Aircraft Deporting Over 100 Illegal Indian Immigrants Sparks Political Storm

An American military aircraft carrying more than 100 illegal Indian immigrants landed at Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport in Amritsar yesterday, where, according to Indian authorities, many of the deported individuals were reportedly bound at the hands and feet.

On Wednesday, US authorities deported 104 illegal Indian immigrants on a military flight, and upon their arrival in Amritsar, reports emerged that some of these deported individuals had been restrained during the journey. The news has caused a political uproar, raising questions about the treatment of these deported Indian citizens.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the issue, emphasizing the importance of encouraging legal immigration. He also pointed out that it is the government’s responsibility to bring back Indian citizens who are detained abroad illegally.

During initial inquiries, the deported individuals stated that they had used various agents and stayed at several locations before being apprehended. Media reports indicated that these Indian nationals had paid substantial amounts of money to agents in exchange for illegal entry into the US but had willingly chosen illegal routes to enter the country.

In his speech in the Rajya Sabha, S. Jaishankar reiterated that it is the responsibility of all countries to take back their citizens if they are found to be residing illegally abroad. He confirmed that the deportees were restrained during the entire flight, but women and children were exempt from this.

Jaishankar explained that the deportation process was organized and carried out by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Authority (ICE), using aircraft with deportation guidelines in place since 2012. These procedures were intended to limit the movement of deported immigrants during the journey.

Upon their arrival in Punjab, local authorities, in coordination with central agencies, began interrogating the deported individuals, with allegations ranging from visa violations to involvement in unauthorized networks. According to media reports, some of the deportees had been misled by agents, while others unknowingly became part of a larger scheme. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs in Punjab, confirmed that the deported Indians were in good health.

In response to the situation, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also requested that Prime Minister Modi approach US President Donald Trump to resolve the issue, highlighting the strained diplomatic implications of this deportation incident.