The US Air Force plane carrying 104 Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US arrived in Punjab’s Amritsar on Wednesday. The flight, which took off from Texas on Tuesday, also carried 11 crew members and 45 US officials overseeing the deportation process.
VIDEO | Punjab: US aircraft carrying deported Indian immigrants lands at Amritsar Airport.
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/Lza2pRDvvg
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What Did THE US SAY?
Earlier on Tuesday, 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.
Who Are These Deportees?
According to media reports, the highest number of 30 each were from Haryana and Gujarat. A total of 30 deportees were residents of Punjab. Two people each were from Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh, while three were from Maharashtra. The deportees include 25 women and 12 minors, with the youngest passenger being just four years old.
Forty-eight people are below the age of 25.
A senior Punjab official said that most deportees from the state belong to Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Patiala, Mohali and Sangrur. Some had entered the US illegally, while others overstayed their visas.
