"Unprecedented Deportation: 104 Indians Returned from US on Military Aircraft Amid Rising Immigration Tensions"

 

The United States deported 104 Indian nationals on February 5, 2025, as part of its immigration enforcement efforts. These individuals had entered the U.S. illegally and were subject to removal orders. The deportation occurred just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between the U.S. and India on immigration matters. 

A U.S. military plane carrying 104 deportees landed on Wednesday in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in India's Punjab state, part of President Donald Trump's immigration agenda.

The U.S. is India's largest trading partner and the two countries are forging deeper strategic ties as they look to counter China. India is also keen to work with the U.S. to make it easier for its citizens to get skilled workers visas.

Although Indian immigrants have been deported by previous U.S. administrations, it was the first time Washington used a military aircraft to do so.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Times of India and the Indian Express newspapers said all immigrants, barring children, were handcuffed during the flight, quoting unnamed officials in Punjab who said they had spoken to the deportees.

The deportees underwent hours of scrutiny at Amritsar airport before police escorted them out in small groups in police vehicles.

"Reports have surfaced of these individuals being shackled and treated in a degrading manner during their deportation process, raising serious concerns about their human dignity and rights," opposition Congress party lawmaker Gaurav Gogoi said in a notice to the lower house of parliament.

Jaishankar told parliament that the process of deportation followed by U.S. authorities was not a new one and it allows for use of restraints on immigrants being returned to their home countries.

He also said that the women and children among the deportees were not restrained, adding that India's focus should be on strongly cracking down on the illegal migration industry.

"It is the obligation of all countries to take back their nationals if they are found to be living illegally abroad," Jaishankar said, adding that hundreds of Indians have been deported every year for years.

"We are engaging the U.S. government to ensure that the returning deportees are not mistreated in any manner during the flight," he said.

"USBP (U.S. Border Patrol) and partners successfully returned illegal aliens to India, marking the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport," USBP chief Michael Banks said in a post on X on Wednesday.

"If you cross illegally, you will be removed," he said in the post which had a video showing some men being led into a military plane in handcuffs and legs in chains.

In a separate notice by another Congress party lawmaker, Manickam Tagore urged Jaishankar to make an immediate statement in parliament clarifying the Modi government's stand and steps taken to address the issue.

Enforcing immigration laws was "critically important" to the security and public safety of the United States, said a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Delhi.

"It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens," the spokesperson added.

Migration has been among the key issues discussed by India and the U.S. since Trump assumed office last month, and is also expected to come up during Trump's talks with Modi.

India has expressed its commitment to accepting deported nationals, provided their identities are verified. The Indian government is working with U.S. authorities to ensure the proper treatment of deportees and to address concerns about their well-being during the deportation process. 

The deportation aligns with President Donald Trump's immigration policies, which emphasize strict enforcement of immigration laws and the removal of individuals residing in the U.S. without legal authorization. The U.S. State Department views such deportations as a deterrent to illegal immigration. 

What the Foreign Office said about the US military jets, the Centre  announced that  US authorities have announced that 487  Indian citizens suspected of a "final removal order" in India.  

What the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said about us on a military jet for the deportation of Indians More than 100 Indians who lived illegally in the US were deported and sent back to the C-17 Globemaster III -  military aircraft that landed in Amritsar on Tuesday. 

 Foreign Minister Vikram Misri responded at a press conference on the use of  US air level  and the use of conditions in which Indians were deported. “This special deportation is somewhat different compared to previous flights.

 In the US system itself, it was called national security activities. Maybe that's why you used  military aircraft," Misri said. The Centre  announced that it had announced India that it suspected US authorities suspected the "final distance order" to India. 

On Tuesday, a US military aircraft landed at Amritsar Airport and landed in 104 legged handcuffs for a flight that lasted almost 24 hours.  This mission highlights our commitment to implementing immigration laws..." USBP and partners successfully returned illegal extraterrestrials to India, marking the most distant deportation flight in military transport. This mission highlights our commitment to enforce immigration laws and fast distance guarantees. If you cross it illegally, it will be deleted. 

 "If you cross it illegally, it will be removed" - warning  at the end of the video. 

The exiles presented as "prisoners" by the United States were accompanied by American soldiers who had climbed the flight. Since Donald Trump took control of the oval office, he has vowed to be "illegal aliens" - a "illegal aliens" term known as the migrants who have entered the country. Previously, US military aircraft have returned to Guatemala, Peru and Honduras. 

The first round of Indian deportation will take place one week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the United States on February 12th and 13th. This will be the first meeting between Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi, who was launched as president last month. Foreign Minister Jaishankar spoke in Congress yesterday and said that the  deportation of illegal immigrants by the United States is not a new development, but has been going on for several years. 

Jaishankar pointed to hundreds of Indians who were deported each year because he went illegal or remained in the country. These numbers were 530 in 2012 and over 2,000 in 2019. “It is in our collective interest to promote legal mobility and stop illegal movements (and) when it turns out they live illegally abroad, all countries have their citizens. It is an obligation to withdraw it." “So the deportation process is nothing new...it has been there for years. 

This is not a guideline that applies only to countries. Our focus should be on the process of illegal immigration," he said,  "We will deal with the United States to ensure that our exiles are not abused. He also said that US authorities have not kept women and children under control and that "deported needs in connection with food and other essentials, including potential emergency" were handled.  104 Indians are back - how much did they cost? 

The Indians embarked on a dangerous route to reach the United States. They shared how their dreams broke after spending time to be deported a few months later.  The C-17 is a military aircraft with heavy transport  aircraft, which is more costly to maintain than regular commercial airlines.

 Last week, flights to Guatemala were probably at a first class average cost of $4,675 per immigrant, five times as much as $853,  according to  Reuters. The  Immigration and Customs Agency (ICE), which previously produced commercial jets for deportation, was quite expensive. advertisement The cost of expelling 64 migrants to Guatemala on a C-17 aircraft was  $28,500 per hour. The flight took about 10.5 hours to complete the trip. 

This has ended the soil or time  to prepare for the start. Guatemala, C-17 operation costs as references and  Flights from San Antonio, Texas to Amritsar last 19 hours and exceed $500,000 or $4 billion combined with the cost of transporting deportations.

In summary, the deportation of 104 Indian nationals was a part of the U.S. government's efforts to enforce immigration laws and manage the presence of undocumented immigrants, with cooperation from the Indian government to facilitate the process.