Two aircraft transporting the second and third groups of Indian nationals deported from the United States arrived at Amritsar airport over the weekend. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured that the deportees would receive appropriate care, highlighting that all necessary provisions for their accommodation and onward travel had been established. He stated, “Our children are returning home, and no one will go without food. We have arranged for meals and lodging. They will remain here for a few hours before proceeding to their respective states, as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has already booked their flights,” during a press conference. Mann also took the opportunity to criticize the central government, alleging a conspiracy aimed at discrediting Punjabis. He remarked, “The first deportation flight arrived in Amritsar, and now we have a second. The MEA needs to clarify why Amritsar was chosen as the landing location. This appears to be an effort to damage Punjab’s reputation.” This incident marks the second flight of deportees arriving in Amritsar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s readiness to repatriate its nationals living illegally in the U.S. and emphasized the importance of dismantling the “ecosystem” of human trafficking, expressing confidence that former U.S. President Donald Trump would support India’s initiatives in addressing this matter.The deported individuals predominantly come from Punjab and Gujarat, with additional individuals from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Reports indicated that, in contrast to the first deportation flight, women on this journey were not subjected to handcuffing or chaining, a practice that had drawn significant criticism during the previous flight. India is recognized as the third-largest source of undocumented immigrants in the United States, following Mexico and El Salvador.
