New Delhi | A military transport aircraft of the US is bringing a group of Indian migrants, in the first such deportation to India as part of the big crackdown on illegal immigrants by President Donald Trump in his second term at the White House.
Without directly commenting on the deportation flight carrying the Indians, a spokesperson at the US embassy in New Delhi said on Tuesday that Washington is tightening immigration laws and removing illegal migrants.
The US action comes in the midst of India and the US finalising various elements of a likely visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington from February 12 to 13.
It is learnt a C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force took off with the deported Indians from an airbase near Texas. However there is no clarity on the number of people on board the plane.
A C-17 aircraft can carry up to 140 people. There is no official word from India yet on the US action.
The US embassy spokesperson declined to provide details of the deportation flight but said: "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," the official added.
It is learnt that the US military aircraft may land in Amritsar or a near-by airbase on Wednesday morning. However, there is no official confirmation of it yet.
The Trump administration has so far used military aircraft to deport illegal migrants to Guatemala, Peru and Honduras.
India has emerged as the farthest of the destinations to send military aircraft to deport people by the Trump administration.
Following his phone conversation with Prime Minister Modi on January 27, Trump said India "will do what is right" on the deportation of illegal migrants from the US.
According to estimates, around 18,000 illegal immigrants from India have been identified by American authorities for deportation.
Days after Trump came to power for a second term, India indicated its willingness to work with Washington to address issues relating to illegal immigration.
India is opposed to illegal immigration because of its links to several forms of organised crime, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last month, adding New Delhi will take back all Indians who have either overstayed in the US or are there without documentation.
"We will take them back provided documents are shared with us so that we can verify their nationality, that they are indeed Indians," he had said.
At the same time, Jaiswal said it would be "premature" to talk about the number of illegal Indian immigrants staying in the US.
Meanwhile, Congress Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Shukla said in a post on 'X' that he attended a meeting of parliamentary committee on the external affairs where he came to know that "America is sending back 7.25 lakh Indians by calling them illegal".
"What will they do after coming here?" he asked.
In October last year, the US hired a chartered flight to deport Indian nationals who had been staying in the country illegally.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the US had said that it remains committed to enforcing US immigration laws, imposing strict consequences on those who enter the country illegally.
Chandigarh | Amid reports that a US military plane carrying around 200 illegal immigrants would land at the Amritsar airport on Wednesday, a top Punjab Police officer has said the state government authorities will receive the deported Indians.
Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed disappointment over the United States' decision to deport these people, saying they have contributed to the US economy and should have been granted permanent residency, instead of being deported.
There are reports that a US C-17 military aircraft, carrying 205 illegal immigrants hailing from Punjab and neighbouring states, will land in Amritsar on Wednesday.
US law-enforcement agencies launched a crackdown against illegal immigrants after Donald Trump became the president.
Many people from Punjab had entered the US through the "donkey route" or other illegal means by spending lakhs of rupees and are now facing deportation.
Asked about the reports of the US plane carrying illegal immigrants landing in Amritsar, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Tuesday that the issue was discussed at a meeting here.
"The chief minister (Bhagwant Mann) said from the Punjab government's side, we will receive our immigrants and set up counters (for them) there," he said.
"We are in touch with the Centre. As and when information comes, we will share," the DGP added.
Mann held a meeting here on Tuesday with Punjab Police officers, including commissioners and senior superintendents of police, to discuss various issues.
Dhaliwal dubbed the issue of Indians being deported from the US as "very serious".
In an official statement issued in Amritsar, he expressed disappointment over the US government's decision, saying many Indians had entered the country with work permits, which later expired, making them illegal.
He argued that these individuals, who contributed to the US economy, should have been granted permanent residency instead of being deported.
The NRI affairs minister said he plans to meet the external affairs minister next week to discuss the concerns and interests of Punjabis living in the US.
He also appealed to Punjabis not to travel abroad through illegal means, stressing the importance of acquiring skills and education to access opportunities worldwide.
New Delhi | Congress leader Rajeev Shukla claimed on Tuesday that the United States is set to send as many as 7.25 lakh Indians back after terming them illegal immigrants.
Shukla said he was told this during a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee of the external affairs ministry.
The Congress leader wondered what these people would do once they are back in India as they have been living in the US for years and have nothing left here.
"Attended a meeting of the foreign ministry of Parliament. There I came to know that the US is sending back 7.25 lakh Indians by calling them illegal," Shukla said in a post in Hindi on X.
"These lakhs of people have been living there for years. They earn well. In India, they have nothing left. What will they do after coming here? They have suddenly become poor from rich," the former Union minister said.
Shukla, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs.
A US military aircraft is reportedly bringing a group of Indian migrants, in the first such deportation to India as part of a big crackdown on illegal immigrants ordered by President Donald Trump in his second term at the White House.
Without directly commenting on the deportation flight carrying the Indians, a spokesperson at the US embassy here said Washington is tightening immigration laws and removing illegal migrants.
The US action comes in the midst of India and the US finalising various aspects of a likely visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington from February 12 to February 13.
India is opposed to illegal immigration because of its links to several forms of organised crime, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last month, adding that New Delhi will take back all Indians who have either overstayed in the US or are there without documentation.
