A United States military C-17 aircraft carrying first batch of104 deported Indian nationals landed at Amritsar airport on February 5. (PTI photo)Illegal Indian Immigrants Return Live Updates: A third batch of 112 illegal Indian immigrants from the US landed at Amritsar airport Sunday night. This comes after the second batch of 119 Indians arrived at the airport at 11:40 pm Saturday. Deportations will continue every other week till all illegal immigrants are returned to their home countries as part of US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal migration, sources said.
Among the 119 landed yesterday night, 100 are from Punjab and Haryana. While 67 are from Punjab, 33 are 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. A senior police official said those from Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra are being transported to their respective states via early morning flights.
Amid the row over “inhuman” treatment of deportees, sources told The Indian Express, the second batch of Indians were handcuffed and shackled. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed his commitment to repatriate the immigrants during his visit to the US, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann slammed him saying, “While Modi was shaking hands with his friend Donald Trump, Indian citizens were being deported in chains on a military aircraft. The chained Indians being sent back are Trump’s return gift to Modi.”
Promised 40 days, reached US in 5 months: The dunki route travails of Haryana man
Rs 40 lakh and 40 days — that is what the travel agent promised to facilitate this Haryana man’s travel to the US. But it took the 23-year-old five months to reach the US and he was deported back in 20 days.
“We were hoping to reach the US during the previous regime in America but the government changed by the time we reached there, which deported us back to India,” said Mandeep Singh, a resident of Shyo Majra of Kaithal district in Haryana.
A graduate, he began his journey to the US on September 18, 2024, and travelled through 10 countries to reach his destination through dunki route. From Mumbai, he went through Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico before crossing the USA border on January 24. However, the US border police arrested him and put him in a detention centre. Read More
33 US deportees reach Ahmedabad: Reports
Two flights with 33 Gujarat natives deported from US land have landed at Ahmedabad airport from Amritsar, says officials. PTI
From snakes, crocodiles to trimming beard, US deportee from Punjab recalls perilous 'donkey route'
Promised a legal entry into the US, Mandeep Singh's life was at risk after he was made to deal with crocodiles and snakes, trim his beard despite being a Sikh, and having to go without food for days.
But his dream to secure a better life for his family in Amritsar came crashing down on January 27 when he was arrested by the US Border Patrol while trying to sneak into America via Tijuana in Mexico.
Mandeep was part of 112 Indians to be deported by a US military aircraft that landed at the Amritsar airport late on Sunday, the third such batch of Indians to be sent back amid a crackdown by the Donald Trump administration against illegal immigrants.
The deportees' arrived within 24 hours of a US military aircraft bringing back a batch of 116 Indians living illegally in that country.
Instead of a legal entry as promised, Mandeep's travel agent put him on the 'donkey route' – an illegal and risky pathway used by migrants to enter the US. (PTI)
Bus carrying 44 deportees from Haryana arrives at Ambala
A bus carrying 44 people from Haryana who were deported from USA arrived at Ambala on Monday morning.
A relative of a deportee Sandeep (26) said that he had gone to US in the last week of November.
"My name is Rajesh. My relative's name is Sandeep, aged 26. He had gone there (US) in the last week of November and my last conversation with him was on January 25. His agent had dropped him at Mexico and he had taken Rs 65 lakhs... he faced issues while he was being taken... we received information through a Facebook channel that he was coming back..." Rajesh said speaking to ANI.
US deportees speak about handcuffing, chains and emotional struggles
After their arrival late on Saturday, some of the illegal immigrants deported from the US shared their experience of being handcuffed and chained during their 66-hour journey. Of the 117 deportees, the majority were men, all of whom were handcuffed and shackled, according to an official who received the deportees at Amritsar airport.
Some of the deportees said the restraints were meant to ensure the safety of the illegal immigrants who were in a state of desperation over shattered US dreams and that any untoward incident on the flight could potentially have dangerous consequences.
US deportees asked to remove turban
Some US deportees from Punjab were asked to remove their turbans while getting detained by the immigration department in the country. The deportees said that they were not allowed to wear a turban for over 20 days during their detention because the officers were concerned that they would hang themselves.
The deportees were finally allowed to put on their turbans after they landed in Amritsar.
Deportees take to respective destinations
The deportees from Punjab and Haryana were taken to their respective destinations around 4:45 am on Monday following the completion of formalities such as immigration, verification and background checks.
The deportees' arrived within 24 hours of a US military aircraft bringing back another batch of Indians living illegally in that country.
Deputy Commissioner (Amritsar) Sakshi Sawhney told reporters earlier that 112 deportees came on the flight.
When asked about their health, she said everyone was fine.
Arrangements for food were made, she added.
Transportation was also arranged to take the deportees to their respective destinations. (PTI)
Third US flight deportees lands at Amritsar airport; 44 from Haryana
Of the 112 deportees, 44 are from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 31 from Punjab, two from Uttar Pradesh and one each from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, news agency PTI said, quoting sources. The plane landed at the airport at 10:03 pm, said sources.
Families of some of the deportees have reached the airport. The deportees will be allowed to head to their homes after completion of all formalities including immigration, verification, and background checks. Arrangements have been made for the transportation of deportees to their destination.
Third US flight with 112 deportees lands at Amritsar airport
The US military aircraft carrying 112 Indian deportees landed at Amritsar airport late Sunday night. This comes after the second batch of 119 Indians arrived at the airport at 11:40 pm Saturday. Deportations will continue every other week till all illegal immigrants are returned to their home countries as part of US President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal migration, sources said.
Booked in 2 FIRs, Ludhiana deportee detained for police verification
Twenty six-old-year Gurwinder Singh, a resident of Sasrali Colony in Ludhiana’s Meharban, was among the second batch of deportees who landed at Punjab’s Amritsar International Airport from the United States, late on Saturday. A graduate, Gurwinder is the son of a Punjab Police officer.
As soon as he returned to Ludhiana, Gurwinder was detained by the local police for verification. He has past criminal record, police said.
“Gurwinder was booked in two FIRs for alleged snatching and theft. He got bail in 2022, but we are verifying if he is wanted in any other case,” inspector Gurpreet Singh, SHO, Meharban police station, said. Gurwinder was yet to be released by local police until the filing of this report. Read More
Punjab CM says mass deportation from US eye opener, asks youths not to travel abroad illegally
"The mass deportation from the United States is an eye opener for all of us," Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Sunday as he urged youths to shun the idea of going abroad illegally and work hard in the state to ensure its socio-economic growth.
The deportees alleged that despite paying huge amounts to travel agents, they were made to travel to the US illegally without knowing. They now seek strict action against those agents.
Addressing a gathering at Ghungrali village here during a sports tournament, Mann said, "We are blessed to have taken birth on this sacred land which is the most fertile in the world." Due to the failure of successive governments in the state, youths were forced to migrate to other countries in search of greener pastures, he said.
The chief minister said, "The mass deportation from the US is an eye-opener for all of us and now we should not move abroad illegally, but rather work hard for the socio-economic growth of the state." Mann said the AAP government has already given more than 50,000 government jobs to the youths in Punjab purely based on merit. "This is for the first time in the history of the state that such a large number of government jobs have been given to the youth in three years." (PTI)
PM didn't tell his good friend about country's outrage over handcuffing Indian deportees: Congress
The Congress Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a visit to the US recently, of not conveying to his "good friend" Donald Trump about the outrage over the shackling of Indians being deported from America.
Two US military planes have landed in Amritsar this month so far, deporting Indians as part of the Trump administration's promised crackdown on illegal migration. Another deportation flight from the US is scheduled to arrive in Amritsar on Sunday night.
Many deportees have claimed they were in shackles during the flight.
Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh referred to reports of shackling Indians deported from the United States and said, "It is abundantly clear that the PM did NOT convey to his good friend our country's outrage at the manner in which Indian citizens are being deported from the USA. Only cowards boast of 56-inch chests." (PTI)
2nd US flight in Amritsar, many deportees complain being shackled; third plane on Sunday night
A US military aircraft carrying 116 illegal Indian immigrants landed at Amritsar airport late on Saturday night, with the men among the deportees claiming they were in shackles during the journey and Sikh youths were allegedly without turbans.
The C-17 aircraft, which landed at the airport around 11.35 pm on Saturday, was the second batch of Indians to be deported by the Donald Trump administration as part of its crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Of these 115 deportees, 65 are from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, two each from Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. They were provided food upon reaching Amritsar, much to their reprieve after the exhausting journey.
According to sources, most of the deportees in the second batch were aged between 18 and 30.
A third plane carrying 112 deportees, that include people from Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat, is expected to land at Amritsar airport late on Sunday night, official sources said.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Sunday strongly condemned the US authorities for allegedly not allowing Sikh deportees, who were part of the second batch of illegal Indian immigrants, to wear turbans. (PTI)
Patiala police arrest 2 US deportees in a 2023 murder case
The Patiala police in Punjab arrested two deportees from the US in connection to a murder case after their flight landed at the Amritsar airport on Saturday evening.
Those arrested were identified as Sandeep Singh alias Sunny, a resident of Vikas Nagar in Rajpura under Patiala district, and Pardeep Singh. After the flight with the second batch of deportees from the US landed, it was found that the two were named in the murder case of one Swaran Singh in 2023. Read More
Some deportees who landed from US didn’t have turbans, says Punjab cabinet minister; SGPC made last-minute arrangements for siropas
A Punjab cabinet minister and some deportees who landed from the United States in Amritsar on Saturday night have claimed that some of the young men on board the flight didn’t have their turbans, and the Punjab administration had to make last-minute arrangements at the airport.
The second batch of 116 devotees arrived at the Sri Ramdas International Airport a little before midnight yesterday.
Yashpal Singh from Patti, who claimed to have spent Rs 44 lakh to take the “dunkey route” to the US, said, “We were not wearing turbans when we landed at the airport. They had removed our turbans (before the flight). SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) provided us with a siropa, but those were not long enough as these are used to honour someone and not to tie on the head. So I borrowed a cap to cover my head.” Read More
‘I wanted to enter US from Arizona’: Deportee blames agent who made him cross border in state Trump lost
Son of a shopkeeper at Patti in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, Yashpal Singh was likely one of the most informed immigrants on the “donkey route”. He had developed an understanding of US politics, with which he wanted to increase his chances of living the American dream. He said his agent, however, shattered all his dreams.
The deportees who landed at Amritsar airport late on Saturday were mostly those who entered the US just before or soon after President Donald Trump took office. Knowing Trump’s politics, Yashpal wanted to enter the US from the Arizona border. His agent, however, pushed him into the US from the California border.
“I started from Delhi on December 16. The first agent landed me in Nicaragua. Then we somehow reached Mexico, where they kept us waiting for one month. We were aware that Trump was set to become President and he would tighten the norms. So we wanted to enter the US before Trump came to power. But our agent kept us waiting, and we were made to enter the US only on January 24,” he said. Read More
Illegal immigration from Punjab: experts say ‘donkey route’ attracts parents more than their children
Illegal immigration routes have attracted parents in Punjab more than their children, inspired by a few “success stories” of the past, immigration consultants say, noting that the trend was initially more popular in the Majha and Doaba belts but has since spread throughout the state.
Vinay Kumar Hari, an immigration consultant based in Chandigarh, said, “It is high time the Punjab government arrested people behind this illegal immigration mafia. Ten days have passed since the first flight landed in Amritsar. They should start focusing on how to tackle this illegal migration, as they must have received enough tip-offs from the deportees. As per the figures from the US, 7.25 lakh Indians have applied for asylum in the US in the past 25 years. That means something. Governments need to work on how to stop this illegal migration.”
Hari added, “People who go with study visas spend a minimum of 20 lakh a year for a minimum of four years and later get a job as per their qualification, while many are allured to the ‘donkey route’, in which they spend a one-time amount of Rs 50 lakh or more. Many have settled in the US having chosen this route in the past. We feel surprised that many green card holders proudly say they went through the ‘donkey route’ after facing many hardships. This is the reason many others are allured to follow the illegal route. Through this route, they neither clear the IELTS exam nor need to study in any university. Above all, many singers have made songs promoting the ‘donkey route’, which is really discouraging.”
“Once a person crosses the Mexico border to enter the US, they surrender themselves to the US police and live in a refugee camp for a few months. This is how the lawyer comes into the picture to bail them out after filling an immigration bond, which is an additional expense. This is how they gain work rights in the US and the illegal immigrants file an application seeking asylum. Deportations used to happen in the past from the camps, but many others used to get bail and further work rights. So they find this an ‘easy way’ without fearing deportation,” Hari explained.
Among deportees from US, Punjab’s duo who last called home with ‘good news’ of their arrest
As her cellphone rang on January 28 and Harjeet Singh’s name blinked on the screen, Sukhjeet Kaur picked the call, her heart racing as she awaited for her son to share with her the “good news”. Harjeet, who alongwith his cousin Harjot Singh had left their home at Khanowal village in Punjab’s Gurdaspur on October 12, had finally managed to illegally cross into the US from Mexico that day. That, however, was not the good news.
“Harjeet was happy that he and Harjot will now be arrested by the US authorities. He told us that he may not be able to call us for next few days,” said Sukhjeet Kaur. “They were not worried about their arrest as it was the necessary first step to start the paper work”.
The “paper work” here is the application for seeking asylum in the US. It had been a routine process in the past that illegal immigrants, who would get arrested after entering the US from Mexico on crossing the border, would be kept at detention centres. Later they would be given a chance to seek asylum and their case would be heard. With the process, in some cases, dragging on for years, the immigrants would start taking up petty jobs. If the papers were approved, the immigrants would get the legal status, opening the doors for them to get their family members to the US. Read more
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: Third batch of deportees to land today
A third batch of 157 illegal Indian migrants from the US is expected to land in Amritsar today night.
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: 'A test for Indian diplomacy,' says P Chidambaram over questions on condition of Indians about to land in Amritsar
Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said that all eyes would be on tje flight carrying illegal Indian immigrants deported by the US, which is scheduled to land in Amritsar today. 'All eyes will be on the U.S. aircraft which will land today in Amritsar bringing back illegal immigrants. Will the deportees be handcuffed and their legs tied with ropes? It is a test for Indian diplomacy,' Chidambaram said in a post on X.
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: Our own people returning, have made arrangements for their food and shelter, says Punjab CM Mann
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who reached the Amritsar airport to receive deportees who will be landing there, said that his government has made arrangements for their food and shelter. "Our own people are returning to this land, so they cannot go hungry," Mann said, while adding that the deportees would be flown to Delhi at around 6: 30 am.
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: ‘How many travel agents booked for human trafficking in 3 years?,’ Partap Singh Bajwa slams Punjab CM Mann
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Saturday slammed Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while alleging a failure on the part of the AAP-led government to curb the human trafficking of Punjabis in the last three years. This comes even as a second US plane with 119 Indian deportees is scheduled to land in Amritsar.
Highlighting the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, which aims to impose checks and curbs on illegal and fraudulent activities of people engaging in organised human smuggling, Bajwa questioned, 'Can CM Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the Home portfolio, let Punjabis know how many travel agents have been booked under the same law in the last three years?' While mentioning Mann's point on illegal immigration being a national problem, Bajwa said, 'True, but is his government not responsible for acting if any illegality happens in the state? He seems to have been running away from his responsibilities. However, it was one of AAP’s main election planks to stop the brain drain by motivating youngsters to explore careers in the home state.'
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: BJP defaming holy city of Amritsar, says Punjab CM Mann as he reaches airport to receive US deportees
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party was defaming the holy city of Amritsar, hours before a US plane with Indian illegal immigrants is scheduled to land at the Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport. Mann, who reached the airport to receive the deportees, asked whether anyone would allow a plane being used for the purpose of deportation to land in Vatican City. "Amritsar is a holy city. BJP is intentionally defaming Amritsar by landing planes here. How will the BJP face the people of Punjab in elections after such defamation?," he questioned.
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: PM Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to repatriating Indian nationals
Following the bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to repatriating verified Indian nationals while stressing the need to combat human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable migrants.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “They committed to streamlining avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals and facilitating short-term tourist and business travel while also committing to aggressively addressing and tackling illegal immigration and human trafficking. There is a commitment from both sides to take decisive action against elements that threaten public and diplomatic safety and security, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations. There is a commitment to strengthen law enforcement in this regard, especially significant from our perspective given some events that have taken place.”
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: Punjabis unfairly targeted - CM Bhagwant Mann's swipe at Centre
As second set of US deportees are scheduled to land in Amritsar today, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann slammed the Centre terming it a conspiracy to malign Punjab and Punjabis.
Taking a swipe at the BJP-led Centre, Mann alleged that despite Punjab’s contributions as India’s “food bowl and sword arm,” the Centre is running a smear campaign against the state. Mann also criticised the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) decision to land deportation flights in Amritsar while several other airports across India were available.
“I have already raised this issue with the MEA and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), but I haven’t received a satisfactory response. One such flight landed a few days ago, and now two more are being sent here without any justification,” he said.
Mann alleged that Punjabis are being unfairly targeted. “The Prime Minister and his party dislike Punjabis, despite the fact that more than 90% of those martyred, jailed, or exiled during India’s freedom struggle were from Punjab,” he remarked.
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: More deportations expected in coming months
As more deportations are expected in the coming months, immigration enforcement continues to be a main issue between India and the US. The deportations bring light on the broader challenge of irregular migration from India to the US Economic hardships, limited employment opportunities, and the appeal of better prospects abroad continue to drive many Indians to seek unauthorised entry into the US.
The challenge before the Central government is the reintegration of the returnees, many of whom have spent years abroad and may struggle to rebuild their lives back home.
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: Deportation after Modi-Putin meet
The second deportation of Indians from the US comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump. During the meet, PM Modi discussed the issue of illegal migration.
During a press conference in the US after the bilateral meet, Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to repatriating verified Indian nationals while stressing the need to combat human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable migrants.
US Deported Illegal Indian Immigrants Live Updates: Second set of deportees to land in Amritsar
Hi!
A US military aircraft carrying second set of deported Indians will land at Amritsar airport today between 10 pm and 11 pm. Sources said those on board include 67 from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from UP, two each from Maharashtra and Rajasthan, and one each from Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. This time, its unlikely that they will be handcuffed, sources said.
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