A US deportation flight carrying over 100 Indian nationals has touched down in Amritsar, Punjab.
The flight departed Texas late Tuesday and carried 104 deportees, many of whom had crossed into the US through Mexico in search of better opportunities.
But with Trump making mass deportations a signature policy, the US has identified 18,000 Indian nationals it says entered the country illegally.
India’s Friendly Approach
On the ground in Punjab, authorities have set up special processing counters to receive the deportees, ensuring what they describe as a “friendly” approach.
Still, the scene outside the airport is tense—journalists and onlookers have gathered near police barricades as the deportees are whisked away on buses to their home states.
While this isn’t the first deportation flight to India, using military aircraft adds a new layer to the operation.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has steadily increased removals of Indian nationals, with over 1,000 deported in 2024 alone.
