119 Indian Migrants Deported from U.S. Set to Land in Amritsar on Feb 15-16
Amritsar’s Guru Ram Dass International Airport is set to receive two more flights on February 15 and 16, carrying 119 Indian migrants deported from the United States as part of an intensified crackdown on illegal immigration.
According to official reports, the majority of the deportees—67 individuals—hail from Punjab, followed by 33 from Haryana. Others include 8 from Gujarat, 3 from Uttar Pradesh, 2 each from Maharashtra, Goa, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Many of these individuals had allegedly entered the U.S. through unauthorized routes, including Mexico, with some reportedly destroying their passports upon arrival to avoid identification.
This latest batch of deportations follows the February 5 repatriation of 104 Indian nationals, also via Amritsar, aboard a U.S. military aircraft. That group included 33 deportees from Haryana and Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, and smaller numbers from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
Controversy has erupted over allegations of mistreatment during the deportation process. Some deportees claimed they were shackled by their hands and legs throughout the journey, only to be unbound upon arrival in India. The issue has drawn political backlash, with opposition leaders demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi take up the matter with U.S. authorities.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge strongly condemned the alleged treatment, stating that deportees were handled “even worse than garbage.” Amid mounting criticism, the Indian government has formally expressed concerns to Washington regarding the conditions faced by deportees.
The surge in deportations has also prompted law enforcement agencies in Punjab and Haryana to intensify their crackdown on unauthorized immigration agents. These agents, known for charging exorbitant fees, reportedly facilitate illegal entry into the U.S., often exploiting vulnerable migrants.
As deportations continue and scrutiny grows, the Indian government faces increasing pressure to address both the treatment of returnees and the rampant human smuggling networks that push many migrants toward dangerous and unauthorized routes.