US military C-17 aircraft carrying deported illegal Indian immigrants lands in Amritsar

C-17 Aircraft carries deportees under Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration

A US military aircraft carrying 205 illegal Indian immigrants landed at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar on Wednesday afternoon, officials confirmed.

The C-17 aircraft, which departed from San Antonio, Texas, at 3 AM IST on February 4, was initially scheduled to arrive in Amritsar on Wednesday morning but faced delays.

Majority of deportees from northern Indian states

A senior official said that the highest number of deportees were from Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab, followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Sources revealed that the deported individuals, primarily from Punjab and neighboring states, were transported with their hands and feet cuffed.

Punjab government assures support for returnees

On Tuesday, Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that the state government would provide assistance to the deportees upon arrival. He also announced the establishment of help desks at the airport to facilitate the process.

Punjab’s NRI Affairs Minister, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, criticized the US government’s decision to deport these individuals, arguing that they had contributed to the country’s economy and should have been granted permanent residency instead.

“Many Indians entered the US on work permits that later expired, making them illegal immigrants,” Dhaliwal explained.

Punjab Minister urges caution against illegal immigration

Dhaliwal also announced plans to meet with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar next week to discuss issues concerning Punjabis living in the US. He urged Punjabis to avoid illegal migration, emphasizing the need to gain skills and education for legal opportunities abroad.

“People should research legal pathways and improve their education and language skills before traveling,” Dhaliwal added.

Trump administration’s military-backed deportation policy

Since Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President last month, law enforcement has significantly increased crackdowns on illegal immigrants. Many Punjabis who entered the US through ‘donkey routes’ or other illegal means are now being deported after spending significant amounts of money to migrate.

Why is the Trump administration using military planes for deportation?

Upon taking office on January 20, President Trump signed an executive order authorizing the US military to assist in border security efforts.

At the time, acting Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses stated that the Department of Defense would “provide military airlift” to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in deporting over 5,000 illegal immigrants.

According to a New York Times report, these individuals were detained by US Customs and Border Protection at the southern border. Salesses further noted that deportation flights would be carried out only after diplomatic clearances were secured from the respective countries.

Symbolic use of military planes in immigration crackdown

The Trump administration has also used military aircraft for deportations as a symbolic gesture to emphasize its strict stance on illegal immigration.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared images of a C-17 Air Force plane carrying deported immigrants, captioning it:

“President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: if you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences.”

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