A U.S. aircraft carrying 119 deported Indian nationals is set to land at Amritsar airport on Saturday, February 15, marking the second such arrival this month amid an intensified crackdown on illegal immigrants by the Trump administration. The deportations are part of a broader effort by U.S. law enforcement agencies to curb unauthorized migration.
According to official sources, the flight is expected to arrive at approximately 10 p.m. Among the 119 deportees, 67 hail from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The deportees were detained in the U.S. for attempting to enter the country illegally, with many reportedly apprehended at the border while using unauthorized entry routes. Another U.S. aircraft carrying deportees is also scheduled to land in Amritsar on February 16.
The latest deportation follows the arrival of another U.S. military aircraft last week, which brought back 104 Indian nationals who had attempted illegal entry into the United States. Among them, 33 individuals each were from Haryana and Gujarat, while 30 were from Punjab. Many of these deportees had spent vast sums of money, often borrowing heavily or selling family assets, in hopes of securing a better future abroad. However, their dreams were abruptly cut short when they were detained and subsequently deported.
Many of those deported, particularly from Punjab, had sought to escape economic hardships by migrating to the U.S. using so-called “donkey routes”—a perilous and illegal means of entry facilitated by human trafficking networks. These routes often involve long and treacherous journeys through multiple countries, exposing migrants to severe risks, including detention, exploitation, and even death.
Following the latest round of deportations, several political leaders in Punjab have voiced their concerns over the repeated landing of U.S. aircraft in Amritsar. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema criticized the central government’s handling of the issue, alleging bias in the selection of landing sites. “The BJP-led Central government wants to defame Punjab. Why does it not land in Gujarat, Haryana, or Delhi?” he questioned, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on Punjab.
In response to the growing crisis, the Punjab government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe illegal human trafficking networks operating in the state. A senior police official confirmed that, based on the statements of deportees, the SIT has registered 10 FIRs against fraudulent immigration consultants and agents who are believed to have orchestrated illegal migration schemes. Authorities have warned of stringent actions against those found guilty of misleading and exploiting desperate migrants.
As the deportation crisis unfolds, affected families are left grappling with shattered aspirations and severe financial hardships. Many had pinned their hopes on a better future in the U.S., only to return home burdened with debt and uncertain prospects. Meanwhile, the Indian authorities continue to monitor developments closely, seeking to tighten immigration laws and crack down on unlawful migration networks to prevent further incidents of mass deportation.
