A U.S. aircraft carrying 116 undocumented Indian migrants deported from the United States landed at Amritsar International Airport on Saturday night. This marks the second wave of deportations under President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration.
The first batch of 104 illegal Indian immigrants arrived on February 5, sparking controversy as they were reportedly brought in handcuffs and chains, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties. This latest group of deportees includes individuals from various states: 65 from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, two each from Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Most of the deportees are aged between 18 and 30, with family members gathering at the airport to receive them.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticized the Central government, urging them not to turn Amritsar into a “deportation hub”. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retaliated, accusing Mann of politicizing the issue.
The growing trend of illegal migration from Punjab and other states has become a significant concern. Many youths from Punjab travel abroad in search of better opportunities, often falling victim to human trafficking and illegal migration networks. Despite the scale of the issue, there is little authentic data available in the public domain.
Following the first batch of deportations, the Punjab Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe cases of human trafficking and illegal migration. The first group included 33 migrants each from Haryana and Gujarat, and 30 from Punjab.
Another flight carrying more deportees is expected to arrive on Sunday, further highlighting the ongoing challenges of illegal immigration and the impact of U.S. immigration policies under the Trump administration.