US Military Plane Carrying 205 Deported Indians to Land in Amritsar Wednesday

In a significant move underscoring US President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement, a U.S. military C-17 aircraft has deported approximately 205 Indian nationals, primarily from Punjab and neighboring states, back to India. The plane is scheduled to land in Amritsar at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

This action aligns with the Trump administration’s stringent policies against illegal immigration. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson in New Delhi emphasized, “The United States is vigorously enforcing its border and immigration laws. These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk.”

The deportation marks the first batch of Indian migrants to be repatriated since Trump’s return to office. In the previous year, approximately 1,100 Indian nationals were deported via special flights. Current estimates suggest that around 20,000 Indian immigrants are slated for deportation by U.S. authorities, with the total number of illegal Indian immigrants in the U.S. reaching approximately 725,000.

India has expressed its readiness to accept deported citizens upon verification of their nationality. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed this stance during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month, stating, “Illegal immigration is often linked to other unlawful activities. It is neither desirable nor beneficial for our reputation. If any of our citizens are found to be in the U.S. illegally, and we verify their citizenship, we are open to their lawful return to India.”

President Trump, after a discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indicated that India is prepared to take back its citizens residing illegally in the U.S. Trump noted that Modi assured him of doing “what is right” concerning the deportation of illegal immigrants.

Under the current administration, the U.S. military’s role in immigration enforcement has expanded. This includes deploying additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, utilizing military facilities to house migrants, and employing military aircraft for deportation purposes. Recent deportation flights have repatriated migrants to countries such as Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras. The Pentagon has organized flights to deport over 5,000 migrants detained in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.