CHANDIGARH: A US plane carrying 119 Indians who were living illegally in America is expected to land at Amritsar airport on Saturday, February 15, 2025. This is the second batch of Indians being sent back as part of the US government's crackdown on illegal immigration.
Officials say the flight will arrive around 10 PM on Saturday. Out of the 119 deportees, 67 are from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
Most of these deportees had entered the US using illegal routes, commonly called the DONKEY route. They paid large amounts of money to agents and took long and dangerous journeys to reach America. Many of these agents have been arrested by the Punjab and Haryana governments since the first batch of deportees arrived.
Another flight carrying deportees is expected to land on February 16. Just last week, a US military plane brought 104 illegal Indian immigrants to Amritsar. Among them, 33 were from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, and 30 from Punjab.
Many of the deported individuals, especially from Punjab, had traveled to the US hoping to build a better future for their families. However, their journey ended in disappointment when they were caught at the border and sent back in handcuffs.
Since Donald Trump became the US President, law enforcement agencies have been strictly enforcing immigration laws. Many people from Punjab and other states who entered the US illegally by spending lakhs of rupees are now being forced to return.
Some political leaders in Punjab have raised concerns about these deportations. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema questioned why the US flights were landing in Punjab and not in Gujarat, Haryana, or Delhi.
To address the issue of illegal immigration, the Punjab government has set up a special investigation team (SIT). This team has already registered 10 cases against fraudulent immigration consultants based on statements from the deportees.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that both India and the US have agreed to work together to make legal travel easier for students, professionals, and tourists. At the same time, they are committed to taking strict action against illegal immigration and human trafficking. He also emphasized the importance of law enforcement cooperation to ensure security and maintain good relations between the two countries.