New Delhi: A US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar on Wednesday afternoon, marking the first major deportation of Indian nationals under the Donald Trump administration. This action indicates the U.S. government is further to actively control illegal migration. While official confirmation of the exact number of deportees is awaited, sources indicate that at least 104 individuals were on board.
Breakdown of Deportees
According to the sources to the PTI, 30 of the deported persons are the Punjabis, 33 from Haryana and Gujarat, 3 from Maharashtra, 3 from Uttar Pradesh, 2 from Chandigarh. Initial reports had suggested that 205 Indian immigrants were being deported, but the final number turned out to be lower.
55 PM under heavy security arrangements. Punjab Police thus took strict security, barocked up airport’s cargo gate and one other doorway to avoid any disruption. Senior officials, i.e., director of Amritsar airport, deputy commissioner, commissioner of police and director of Central Industrial Force (CIF), conducted security meeting prior to the landing of the aircraft.
Diplomatic Angle: Modi-Trump Discussion on Immigration
This deportation comes just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the United States, where he is expected to meet President Trump. Immigration problems were one of the major points of debate in a recent exchange of views between the two leaders.
“Discussed immigration with Modi. India will go the right way when it comes to the repatriation of illegal immigrants,” Trump had emphasized. The Indian government has assured the US of its cooperation in addressing illegal immigration, agreeing to take back Indian nationals who have unlawfully entered America.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), reiterated the Indian position against illegal immigration. “We are against illegal immigration, especially because it is linked to several forms of organized crime. For Indians residing illegally in any country, if they are Indian nationals and do not have proper documentation, we will facilitate their return, provided that their nationality is verified,” he said last month.
Rising Deportations: A 400% Surge in Three Years
Indian deportations to the United States have grown exponentially over the past three years, up by 400%. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fiscal year 2024 report, released in December last year, highlighted this sharp rise.
In 2024 alone, a total of 1,529 Indians were deported, compared to just 292 in 2021. This amounts to on average one Indian being deported per six hours as a result of the US government stepping up efforts to enforce immigration legislation. The expansion in deportations marks the Trump administration’s larger initiative of curbing immigration laws.
Bloomberg revealed last month that both US and Indian governments have flagged a force of nearly 18,000 undocumented Indian immigrants for deportation, respectively. Nevertheless, the real number may be much larger since immigration statistics are under continuous investigation by officials.
India’s Contribution to US Illegal Migration
Despite the increasing number of deportations, Indians constitute a relatively low proportion of illegal migrants in the US. Based on information from US Customs and Border Protection, Indians represented about 3% of all illegal crossings in Fiscal Year 2024.
The problem of undocumented immigration has always been politically divisive in US politics, especially during the Trump years, which have been tough on border security and on the deportation of immigrants. Although Indian nationals account for a minority of overall illegal immigrant population in the US, the recent steep increase in removals is indicative of an increasing attention on it.
Security and Future Implications
The Indian authorities have committed that they will coordinate closely with the US agencies to check the identity of the departing persons and help them have their reintegration into the society. In line with the ongoing deportations, it will be a crucial task for Indian authorities to make a seamless return for the migrants along with addressing the factors behind such unlawful migration.
As the Prime Minister Modi is going to visit the US, the discussion on immigration policy will continue to loom large. There is a very good likelihood that both countries will seek to open legal migration routes and restrict illegal immigration. The changes outlined in this case will establish the standard for future deportation policy and diplomatic relations between the two nations.
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