Second deportation flight with 120 Indians from US to land tonight

A second deportation flight carrying 120 illegal Indian immigrants from the US is set to land at Amritsar airport at 10 pm on Saturday night, according to official sources. This comes as part of the US administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, with a third plane carrying 157 Indian deportees expected to land on Sunday.

The deportation drive has seen a large number of Indian migrants returning from the US, mainly from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. India Today TV accessed an exclusive list of 120 deportees, revealing that over 60 are from Punjab and more than 30 from Haryana, with a few others from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, and Gujarat.

The first batch of 104 deported Indians had landed in Amritsar on February 5, with migrants recounting how they took dangerous "donkey routes"—illegal migration pathways—to enter the US. Many spent lakhs of rupees in their pursuit of a better life for their families, only to be detained at the US border and eventually deported.

A US military video showing deportees in shackles sparked outrage, with opposition parties accusing the Indian government of not doing enough to protect its citizens. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended the US, stating that the use of handcuffs and chains was standard operating procedure (SOP) and that only male deportees were restrained, while women and children were not. He assured that the deportees were provided food and medical assistance throughout the flight.

The political row over these deportations continues, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticizing the central government for allowing the deportation flights to land in Amritsar. However, the BJP dismissed the controversy, accusing the Opposition of exaggerating the issue.

During his visit to the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed illegal immigration, stating that India will take back only verified Indian citizens who were living in the US illegally. The deportations have reignited debates on human trafficking, illegal migration, and the plight of Indian immigrants seeking a future abroad.