Amritsar: A United States military aircraft, the C-17, carrying 205 Indian nationals, arrived at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar on Wednesday afternoon.
The US military plane, carrying 205 illegal immigrants, landed at the airport amidst tight security from Punjab Police.
As per information, Amritsar airport director, deputy commissioner, commissioner of police, and CIF director had held a meeting and the police barricaded the cargo gate and another entry point at the airport as a part of the security measure.
These individuals, primarily from Punjab and nearby states, were deported from the US due to illegal immigration. Those who entered the US through “donkey routes” or other illegal means by spending lakhs of rupees are now facing deportation.
Their deportation aligns with the immigration policies of US President Donald Trump, who launched a strict crackdown on illegal immigrants after assuming office last month.
As per News bytes, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated on Tuesday that the state government would facilitate the return of the deported immigrants and establish help desks at the airport for assistance.
Expressing disappointment over the US government’s decision, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said these individuals had contributed to the US economy and should have been granted permanent residency instead of facing deportation.
He explained that many Indians had initially entered the US on work permits, which later expired, rendering them undocumented immigrants.
Dhaliwal also announced his plans to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar next week to discuss issues affecting Punjabis residing in the US.
Additionally, he urged Punjabis to avoid illegal immigration routes and emphasized the need for skill development and education to access global opportunities legally. He encouraged aspiring immigrants to explore legal pathways, enhance their education, and improve their language skills before moving abroad.
Reports indicate that India may be open to repatriating up to 18,000 undocumented Indian migrants from the United States.
Previously, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated its commitment to assisting in the return of Indian nationals residing illegally in foreign countries.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India opposes illegal immigration due to its connection with organized crime.
As per a report by the US Department of Homeland Security, approximately 220,000 undocumented Indian migrants were living in the US as of 2022.
