In a major immigration crackdown, a U.S. military aircraft carrying 205 deported Indians landed at Amritsar airport in Punjab. The deportation, primarily affecting individuals from Punjab and neighboring states, is part of Donald Trump’s stringent immigration enforcement policy, initiated after he assumed office last month.
The deportees, many of whom entered the U.S. illegally through “donkey routes”, were identified among 18,000 undocumented Indian migrants targeted for deportation. The use of a C-17 military aircraft for this operation underscores the Trump administration’s firm stance on immigration enforcement.
Punjab’s NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed concern, stating that these individuals contributed to the U.S. economy and should have been granted permanent residency instead of deportation. The Punjab government had made arrangements to receive the deportees, setting up dedicated counters at the airport.
This development has triggered debates on the treatment of Indian migrants, their reintegration into society, and the diplomatic ties between India and the U.S. regarding immigration policies. While some support the U.S.’s strict enforcement, others see it as an unjustified targeting of economic contributors.
