A second aircraft carrying 119 Indians deported from the United States landed at the Amritsar International Airport on Saturday night. Punjab Chief Minister has reached the Amritsar airport to receive the deportees. The majority of passengers on board were from Punjab.
Slamming the BJP, Bhagwant Mann said the party is defaming the holy city of Amritsar by allowing such planes to land. According to Mann, the plane will land around 10 pm, as informed by the Ministry of External Affairs.
ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵਰਗੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦਾ ਫੌਜੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸਰਹੱਦੀ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ‘ਚ ਉਤਾਰਨਾ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ‘ਚ ਪਾਉਣਾ ਹੈ। ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਜਵਾਬ ਦੇਵੇ ਕਿ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਉਤਾਰਨ ਲਈ ਹਰ ਵਾਰ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਕਿਉਂ ਚੁਣਿਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ?
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अमेरिका जैसे देश का सैन्य विमान पंजाब के सीमावर्ती शहर में उतारना देश की सुरक्षा… pic.twitter.com/eFXXXEyKW4— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) February 15, 2025
Deportation Amidst Immigration Crackdown
This latest arrival follows a previous flight on February 5, when a US military C-17 aircraft brought back 104 deportees, mainly from Haryana, Gujarat, and Punjab. That flight stirred controversy after reports emerged that many passengers were restrained during transit, prompting criticism in the Indian Parliament.
ਸਾਡਾ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਗੁਰੂਆਂ-ਪੀਰਾਂ ਤੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਧਰਤੀ ਵਜੋਂ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਡਿਪੋਰਟ ਸੈਂਟਰ ਬਣਾ ਕੇ ਬਦਨਾਮ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਨਾ ਕਰੋ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਸ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਧਰਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਮੱਥਾ ਲਗਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮੋ-ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਮਿਟ ਗਏ।
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हमारा अमृतसर शहर गुरुओं-पीरों और शहीदों की पवित्र धरती के रूप में… pic.twitter.com/S0SopL3Wf4— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) February 15, 2025
Officials now suggest that passengers on the upcoming flight are unlikely to be subjected to such measures, The Indian Express reported. The Indian government has assured that concerns over the treatment of deportees have been raised with US authorities.
ALSO READ: 4-year-old youngest among 104 deported Indians: Who are the illegal immigrants sent back by US
Who Are the Deportees?
Sources indicate that the individuals on board include:
– 67 from Punjab
– 33 from Haryana
– 8 from Gujarat
– 3 from Uttar Pradesh
– 2 each from Maharashtra and Rajasthan
– 1 each from Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir
ALSO READ: 487 more illegal Indian migrants to be deported by US: Report
Many of them had attempted to enter the US illegally via the dangerous “dunkey” route, which involves crossing multiple countries before reaching the US border. They reportedly paid large sums to unauthorized agents, some of whom have been arrested by Punjab and Haryana authorities following these deportations.
India-US Dialogue on Immigration
Illegal immigration was a key topic of discussion during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with US President Donald Trump. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to creating legal pathways for travel and employment while intensifying action against human trafficking and unauthorized border crossings.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated: “India and the US have agreed to strengthen law enforcement collaboration, curb illegal immigration, and ensure that individuals traveling between the two countries do so through proper legal channels.”
As more deportation flights are anticipated, authorities in India are stepping up investigations into human trafficking networks, aiming to prevent further exploitation of desperate migrants seeking to enter the US illegally.
