A US military aircraft carrying 205 undocumented Indian immigrants, primarily from Punjab and neighboring states, arrived at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar on February 5. The deportation is part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration under the administration of US President Donald Trump, who resumed office last month.
The Punjab government, led by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, has made arrangements to receive the deported individuals at the airport. Special counters will be set up to process their return and provide necessary assistance.
Expressing disappointment over the US government’s decision, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal emphasised that many of these individuals had contributed to the American economy and should have been granted permanent residency instead of facing deportation. He also reiterated his plan to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar next week to discuss the concerns of Punjabis residing in the US.
Dhaliwal urged Punjabis to avoid illegal migration routes, often referred to as “donkey routes,” and instead focus on acquiring necessary skills and education for legal international opportunities.
Since Donald Trump returned to power on January 20, his administration has ramped up deportations, declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and reinforcing stringent immigration policies. The US has already used military aircraft to deport undocumented immigrants to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras—now, India has become the latest target of this crackdown.
The situation is particularly alarming for Punjabis, who have been one of the largest groups using unauthorised means to enter the US. Many of them reportedly paid human smugglers lakhs of rupees to navigate dangerous migration routes through South and Central America, enduring harsh conditions to reach the US border.
However, the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance approach has placed thousands of undocumented Indians at risk of deportation. This marks the first large-scale deportation of Indians via a US military aircraft, a move that signals more repatriations in the coming months.
Families of the deportees in Punjab are devastated by the sudden return of their loved ones. Many had invested their life savings to send their relatives to the US, only to see them return empty-handed and humiliated.
“My son left for the US three years ago after we borrowed Rs 30 lakh from moneylenders. He was working as a construction laborer. Now, he is coming back with nothing, and we are drowning in debt,” said Baldev Singh, a farmer from Jalandhar.
The financial ruin of these families highlights a grim reality: the deep-rooted desperation that compels many Punjabi youth to risk everything for an American dream that is now turning into a nightmare. Upon arrival, the deported individuals will undergo an identity verification process before being released.
The desperate pursuit of foreign opportunities is fueled by lack of local employment, rural distress, and deep-seated aspirations for Western lifestyles.
Minister Dhaliwal has urged Punjabi youth to explore legal avenues for migration, including higher education, work permits, and skilled employment opportunities abroad. “We must stop glorifying illegal migration. Instead, we need to educate our youth about the risks and equip them with skills that make them employable in global markets through legal means,” he said.
Earlier on February 4, a US Embassy spokesperson said that while specific details cannot be shared, the United States is vigorously enforcing its border and immigration laws. The spokesperson emphasised that the actions taken send a “clear message that illegal migration is not worth the risk.”
“I have received a number of inquiries on the report of a deportation flight to India. I can’t share any details on those inquiries, but I can share, on the record, that the United States is vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk,” a US Embassy spokesperson said.
On January 24, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated that it would facilitate the return of Indian nationals “overstaying” or residing without proper documentation in the United States or “anywhere in the world.”
While addressing a press briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We are against illegal immigration, especially because it is linked to several forms of organised crime.”
He added, “For Indians not just in the United States, but anywhere in the world, if they are Indian nationals and they are overstaying, or they are in a particular country without proper documentation, we will take them back, provided documents are shared with us so that we can verify their nationality and that they are indeed Indians. If that happens to be the case, we will take things forward and facilitate their return to India.”
