The US government is continuing its deportation of illegal immigrants under America's President Donald Trump's policies. A second aircraft carrying 119 deported Indians from the US is set to land at Amritsar airport on Saturday night. More than half of the illegal immigrants are from Punjab. Another flight carrying 157 deportees is expected on February 16. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticized the decision to land deportation flights in Amritsar, calling it an attempt to defame Punjab. He questioned why flights are being sent to Amritsar when people from different states are being deported. Political blame-game on The BJP has responded sharply to Mann’s statement. BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal accused Mann of politicizing the issue and ignoring national security. BJP spokesperson RP Singh said Amritsar is the nearest airport for flights from the US, which is why deportation flights are landing there. He called Mann an "ignorant" CM and asked him to stop making it a political issue. On February 5, a C-17 aircraft with 104 Indians landed in Amritsar, largely with passengers from Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab. Sources said the second group of deportees, unlike those on the first flight, will likely not be in chains. The Centre had faced criticism over the treatment of passengers on the first flight. CM Mann has now reached Amritsar Airport and is holding a press conference on the matter. Flight and passenger details The deportation flight is expected to arrive between 10 AM and 11 AM at Amritsar International Airport. Among the 119 deported Indians: However, Amritsar Airport officials and central agencies have not confirmed these details. Previous deportation flights also had conflicting reports. On February 5, a US Air Force plane, the Globemaster, brought 104 Indians to Amritsar. They were reportedly brought in handcuffs and shackles. It is unclear whether today's deportees will also be restrained. First-time Indian deportees came in a military plane
The last deportation flight left San Antonio, US, on February 4 at 3 AM. This was the first time the US used a military aircraft to deport Indians. Reports suggest that the US has identified 205 Indians for deportation. Over 7 lakh illegal Indian immigrants in the US
According to the Pew Research Center, over 7 lakh Indians were living illegally in the US in 2023, making them the third-largest group after Mexico and El Salvador. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has caught an average of 90,000 Indians trying to enter illegally in the last three years. Most illegal immigrants are from Punjab, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh. Trump's strict action against illegal immigrants
After taking the oath on January 20, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning illegal immigrants. He had promised during his election campaign to deport illegal immigrants, saying they take jobs from American citizens and commit crimes. Trump also signed the ‘Laken Riley Act,’ allowing federal officers to detain and deport illegal immigrants involved in criminal activities.Original Article