By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A US military plane carrying at least 104 deported Indian migrants arrived in the northern Indian city of Amritsar on Wednesday, airport officials confirmed.
This marks the first batch of deportees sent back to India following the US government’s crackdown on illegal immigration under President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to India Today, which cited official sources, the deportees primarily hail from the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat in northern and western India.
Indian foreign ministry officials stated that the country remains open to accepting verified Indian nationals deported from any country, including the US. New Delhi has long opposed illegal immigration, citing its links to organized crime, and has raised no objections to the US repatriating its citizens.
The deportation comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Washington next week. Immigration was among the key topics Modi discussed with Trump in a recent phone call and is expected to feature in their upcoming talks.
During the call, Trump also emphasized the importance of India purchasing more American-made security equipment and ensuring fair bilateral trade.
The Pew Research Center estimates that approximately 725,000 Indian nationals were living illegally in the US as of 2022, with more deportations anticipated.
Modi and Trump share a close diplomatic relationship and previously co-hosted the “Howdy, Modi!” rally in Texas in 2019.
Deportation flights to India are not unprecedented. In the US fiscal year 2024, which ended in September, over 1,000 Indian nationals were repatriated via charter and commercial flights.
In October, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported more than 100 Indian nationals lacking legal grounds to remain in the US on a chartered flight.
