104 Deported Indian Immigrants Arrive Shackled on US Military Aircraft
The treatment depicted in the video has sparked outrage in India, with opposition parties demanding discussions in Parliament over the handling of deportees.
A US military C-17 aircraft carried 104 deported Indian migrants from the United States to Amritsar, Punjab, marking the first such flight to India as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration.
As reported, at least 104 Indian citizens were deported from the United States Tuesday night on a military aircraft, according to officials from India’s Punjab state, as US President Donald Trump makes stemming immigration a top priority.
The C-17 aircraft, carrying migrants mainly from India’s Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Punjab states, landed Wednesday afternoon in the northwestern city of Amritsar, Punjab officials said.
The deportees were primarily from Gujarat (33), Haryana (33), and Punjab (30), with smaller numbers from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chandigarh. Among them were 19 women and 13 minors. The youngest deportee was just four years old.
US Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks shared a video showing Indian immigrants handcuffed and chained during deportation, highlighting strict enforcement of immigration laws.
US Border Patrol chief Michael W. Banks posted a video on X saying, ‘USBP and partners successfully returned illegal aliens to India, marking the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport. This mission underscores our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and ensuring swift removals. If you cross illegally, you will be removed.” pic.twitter.com/WW4OWYzWOf
— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) February 5, 2025
The treatment depicted in the video has sparked outrage in India, with opposition parties demanding discussions in Parliament over the handling of deportees.
This action aligns with President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that deportations are not new but acknowledged concerns about mistreatment. He noted that it is standard practice for countries to take back their nationals found living illegally abroad.
