Second batch of deported Indians to land in Amritsar on Saturday from the US

Two more flights carrying deported Indian immigrants from the US are scheduled to arrive in India on Saturday, just days after the Trump administration deported 104 illegal migrants. While the exact number of deportees on these flights is not yet known, the second flight is expected to land in Amritsar.

Punjab’s finance minister, Harpal Cheema, has criticised the decision to land the deportation flights in Amritsar, suggesting that it is an attempt by the BJP-led government to defame the state. He questioned why the flights couldn't land in Gujarat or Haryana instead, calling it an effort to tarnish Punjab's image.

This development comes amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, where illegal immigration was a key topic of discussion.

The first batch of deportees sparked national outrage after they were sent back to India handcuffed and shackled. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the treatment, stating that they were "treated worse than garbage," and called on Modi to raise the issue with Trump.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that the US had notified India about "487 presumed Indian nationals" who had received removal orders. These deportees had attempted to enter the US unlawfully and claimed mistreatment during the journey, stating they were shackled throughout the flight and unshackled only upon landing.

Misri acknowledged the concerns regarding mistreatment as "valid" and assured that the Indian government would continue to raise the matter with US authorities. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed the Rajya Sabha that deportations from the US have been ongoing for years, with 15,668 illegal Indian immigrants deported since 2009. He stressed that while deportation is not new, the government remains committed to ensuring fair treatment for its citizens.

Senior advocate KK Mannan also clarified that deported individuals would face no legal action in India unless they were found to be travelling with fraudulent documents.