Second Flight Carrying Undocumented Indian Immigrants Returns from the US to India
116 Indian Nationals Deported from the US, Third Batch Expected Soon
Chandigarh, 16th February 2025 A second aircraft carrying undocumented Indian immigrants from the United States landed in Amritsar late Saturday night, marking another significant deportation move by US authorities.
While official sources have not provided formal confirmation, reports indicate that 116 Indian nationals were on board the US military aircraft, which arrived at Amritsar Airport at 11:40 PM. Following its landing, immigration and verification procedures continued for nearly three hours before the returnees were cleared.
Punjab Government Arranges Reception Amid High-Profile Presence
Despite Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann being in Amritsar for the past two days, he was not present at the airport during the flightโs arrival. Instead, the Punjab NRI Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal and Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO were present to oversee the proceedings. Union Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, also arrived at the airport but later departed before the formalities concluded.
The Punjab government had made special arrangements to receive the returnees, reflecting the stateโs deep concern over the growing number of Punjabis involved in unauthorized immigration to the US.
Breakdown of Returnees by State
According to non-governmental sources, the 116 deportees belonged to multiple Indian states, with Punjab accounting for the largest share:
- Punjab 65
- Haryana 33
- Gujarat 8
- Uttar Pradesh 2
- Goa 2
- Maharashtra 2
- Rajasthan 2
- Himachal Pradesh 1
- Jammu & Kashmir 1
More Deportations Expected as the US Cracks Down on Illegal Immigration
As part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration, the US government is expected to deport more Indian nationals in the coming days. Sources suggest that a third batch of undocumented Indian immigrants will be sent back on Sunday, again arriving in Amritsar.
The rising number of deportations underscores heightened immigration enforcement in the US, particularly targeting individuals who entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas. It also highlights growing concerns about human trafficking networks that facilitate the perilous journeys of Indians seeking unauthorized entry into the United States.
With Punjab and Haryana leading in the number of deportees, the issue of illegal immigration remains a pressing socio-economic challenge, prompting Indian authorities to reassess migration policies and awareness programs to curb such incidents in the future.
