When the US military C-17 transport aircraft landed at Punjab’s Amritsar airport on Wednesday carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants being deported from the United States the atmosphere was tense. With an eerie silence, the relatives of the immigrants aboard prayed for their safe return with dashed hopes and an uncertain future. Of these, 30 are from Punjab, 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat, three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh, sources said. It is not the Indians alone, similar deportations are being carried out in Gautemala, Peru, Honduras and others.
The US usually carries out deportations on commercial charters that look like regular commercial planes, and are operated by US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE). While these planes are still ferrying illegal immigrants out, they have received less attention than the huge, imposing military C-17s. Apparently, it had to do with symbolism. Trump has frequently termed illegal immigrants as “aliens” and “criminals” who have “invaded” America. The visuals of immigrants being loaded onto military planes seems to be part of the message that Trump is tough on such “crimes”. Shackling and handcuffing the immigrants as they are loaded into planes also seems in line with this.
Recently, speaking to Republican lawmakers, Trump said, “For the first time in history, we are locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came…We’re respected again, after years of laughing at us like we’re stupid people.”
Upon reaching Amritsar, the administration conducted initial questioning of the deported and arrangements were made to send them back to their respective homes as no family members of the deportees reached the airport to receive them. According to the government data, the number of Indian citizens entering the US illegally has surged dramatically — from 8,027 in the 2018-19 fiscal year to 96,917 during 2022-23. Young Indians looking for work opportunities have made up a sizeable portion of undocumented migrants in the US, some of whom are making the dangerous trek through Latin America to reach the US southern border.
According to the sources, a thorough verification of the documents and credentials, along with a medical examination is being conducted before the deportees are sent to their respective states and hometowns.
“For 40 hours, we were handcuffed, our feet tied with chains and we were not allowed to move an inch from our seats. It was worse than hell”: Harvinder Singh
Prime Minister, listen to this man’s pain. Indians deserve Dignity and Humanity, NOT Handcuffs. pic.twitter.com/WUOwUrCvMB
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 6, 2025
As soon as the C-17 Globemaster landed at Amritsar airport carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants, ferocious reactions began to pour in. Led by the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, many opposition MPs stood outside Parliament waving placards that screamed ‘humans, not prisoners’ and with handcuffs and shackles to make their point. Congress MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee On External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, outlined the opposition’s position on this issue, saying, “If you’re in the US illegally, the US has a right to deport you. And, if your identity as an Indian, is confirmed India has an obligation to accept you. However, it wasn’t good to hear they were brought back in a military plane and handcuffed and so on… that was quite unnecessary.”
We, the INDIA parties, shall not tolerate the humiliation of Indian nationals.
Modi Govt must come out with a detailed statement on the deportation and why did we not send our own planes to bring back the Indians, with dignity and respect, instead of a military plane landing on… pic.twitter.com/wn5rDfbtyt
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) February 6, 2025
After much noise about the way the deportees were sent back, External affairs minister S.Jaishankar said, “Deportations have been a regular process for years and are not a new occurrence. Since 2009, a total of 15,668 illegal Indian immigrants have been deported from the US. These deportations are carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities and that the “standard operating procedure for deportations by aircraft used by (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) ICE that is effective from 2012, provides for the use of restraints.”
Jaishankar further added, “that ICE has informed the Indian government that “women and children are not restrained. Further, the needs of deportees during transit related to food and other necessities, including possible medical emergencies, are attended to.” Regarding toilet breaks, he clarified that “during toilet breaks deportees are temporarily unrestrained if needed in that regard,” adding that these procedures apply to both chartered civilian and military aircraft. Referring to the US military aircraft that transported 104 illegal Indian immigrants on February 5, Jaishankar said, “There has been no change from past procedures for the flight undertaken by the US on February 5, 2025.”
USBP and partners successfully returned illegal aliens to India, marking the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport. This mission underscores our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and ensuring swift removals.
If you cross illegally, you will be removed. pic.twitter.com/WW4OWYzWOf
— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) February 5, 2025
Certainly, the pictures all over the social media on one hand are quite disturbing the way these illegal immigrants have been bought back, on the other they send a stern message to such people to think twice before taking such steps. For it brought only shame to the nation! The kind of money they spend to realise their uncertain “America Dream”, they can earn a far better living without any fear in India itself and that too with respect.
