Around 119 Indian nationals are expected to arrive at Amritsar International Airport this weekend following their deportation from the United States, according to media reports.
Two flights are scheduled to land at Guru Ram Dass International Airport—one on Saturday, February 15, and the other on Sunday, February 16.
A media report has indicated that the deportees had entered the United States illegally, primarily through the Mexico border and other routes. They reportedly tore up their passports after arriving in the US.
An official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed these details.
This marks the second group of deportees following the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on January 20.
The first group of deportees arrived in Amritsar on February 5, consisting of 104 Indians. This group was handcuffed and shackled, triggering widespread outrage in India. In response, the Indian government raised concerns with the US regarding the treatment of the deportees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the media at the White House, emphasised the need to combat human trafficking, which he claimed lures individuals from ordinary families with false promises and leads them to illegal immigration.
“India is fully prepared to take back any verified Indians who are in the US illegally,” Modi said.
“Those who stay in other countries illegally do not have any legal right to be there.”
He added that many of the deportees were misled by promises of a better life. “These are people from ordinary families, shown big dreams, and most of them are misled and brought here,” he asserted.
According to US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP), approximately 1,700 Indians were apprehended between 2022 and November 2024. In 2022, 409 individuals were intercepted, 730 in 2023, and 517 in 2024 till November, including 42 minors.
The Pew Research Center had estimated that around 725,000 unauthorised Indian immigrants were living in the US in 2022.
The mass deportations are part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration policy, which has prioritised stricter enforcement and the removal of undocumented individuals.
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