As the US government continues its crackdown on illegal immigration, more deportation flights carrying Indian nationals are set to arrive in India this week. Reports suggest that the second deportation flight will land at Amritsar Airport on February 15, followed by another the next day. The exact number of deportees on these flights remains unclear.
Last week, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) disclosed that 487 individuals believed to be Indian citizens are on the final deportation list. India has agreed to take back around 18,000 illegal migrants. The first flight, carrying 104 deported Indians, landed in Amritsar, sparking political controversy.
The decision to route these flights through Amritsar has been questioned, particularly in Punjab. State Finance Minister Harpal Cheema accused the central government of deliberately targeting Punjab to tarnish its image. “Why not Gujarat or Haryana? This is an attempt to defame Punjab,” he stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his US visit, reaffirmed India’s commitment to repatriate verified illegal migrants while also tackling human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable individuals. He emphasized the need to protect young Indians who are deceived with false promises and trafficked abroad.
With over 725,000 illegal Indian immigrants in the US, the issue remains a significant challenge for both nations.
