Two flights carrying 119 Indian nationals, who were deported from the US, are expected to land at Guru Ram Dass International Airport in Amritsar on February 15 and 16. The flights are scheduled to arrive at 10:05 PM on both days.
According to reports, these individuals had entered the United States through Mexico and other routes, allegedly tearing up their passports after crossing the border illegally.
Punjab is set to receive the largest number of deportees, with 67 people returning. The rest come from Haryana (33), Gujarat (8), Uttar Pradesh (3), Maharashtra (2), Goa (2), Rajasthan (2), and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
This marks the second group of deportees being sent back to India, after a similar flight on February 5, which brought 104 deported individuals to Amritsar.
In fact, the February 5 flight sparked controversy when it was reported that the deportees, including 19 women, were shackled during their 40-hour journey and had limited access to the toilet. This led to a backlash, with opposition leaders condemning the treatment as inhumane, comparing it to how one would treat terrorists or militants.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar later addressed the issue, confirming that the procedure followed by the US was in line with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that have been in place since 2012. However, the debate continues to swirl around the treatment of deported individuals.
During his meeting with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is willing to take back its nationals if they live illegally in the United States and laid emphasis on the need to finish the "ecosystem" of human trafficking.
"Those who stay in other countries illegally do not have any legal right to be there. As far as India and the US are concerned, we have always said that those who are verified and are truly the citizens of India - if they live in the US illegally, India is ready to take them back," PM Modi said, answering a query at the joint press conference with President Trump after their bilateral talks.