On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, the first flight of deported Indian nationals is set to land in Amritsar. A US military C-17 aircraft carrying 205 Indian nationals will touch down in the city around 9 a.m., marking a pivotal moment in the US administration’s aggressive stance on illegal immigration.
This deportation, which is being executed using a US military C-17 aircraft, signifies an increasingly militarized approach by the United States under President Donald Trump. The aircraft, departing from San Antonio, Texas, at approximately 3 a.m. IST on Tuesday, is carrying individuals who had previously entered the United States illegally. Upon arrival in Amritsar, the deportees will undergo a thorough debriefing and verification process.
Military Involvement in Immigration Enforcement
Under the Trump administration, military resources have been increasingly mobilized to enforce immigration laws. The US has even deployed additional troops along the US-Mexico border and utilized military aircraft to facilitate deportations. This particular flight is part of a broader push to send back over 5,000 illegal immigrants, with further deportations expected in the coming months. In an earlier statement, Trump declared that his administration is “locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came.”
Notably, previous deportation flights have targeted countries like Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras. However, this marks the first time that India has been directly impacted by this militarized approach. India has shown cooperation, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar publicly acknowledging India’s willingness to accept its nationals back, provided their identities are properly verified.
The Numbers Behind the Deportations
According to the latest data from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), over 90,000 Indian nationals attempted illegal entry into the US in the 2024 fiscal year. Though the number of illegal entries from India via the Mexican border has seen a decline from 41,770 in 2023 to 25,616 in 2024, the numbers seeking alternative routes, particularly through Canada, have surged. This reflects a shift in migration strategies, as many look for ways to circumvent heightened security measures along the southern border.
As part of these ongoing enforcement actions, the US government has worked with the Indian government to verify the nationality of the deportees. Indian officials have emphasized that the return process is based on verification to ensure that only Indian nationals are sent back.
India’s position on Illegal Immigration
India has made it clear that it will accept illegal immigrants from the US, but only after proper verification. Last week during the weekly briefing Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed that India is prepared to take back its citizens who are in the US illegally, provided the necessary documentation is shared. “If they are indeed Indian nationals, we will facilitate their return,” Jaiswal stated in response to queries.
This stance aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversation with President Trump, where Modi assured that India would `do what’s right’ regarding the return of Indian nationals living illegally in the US. The countries have reportedly identified more than 18,000 Indian nationals who entered the US illegally, many of whom are expected to be deported in future flights.
The Cost and Risks of Deportation
The US military’s involvement in these deportations comes at a steep price. A recent report revealed that a single military flight to Guatemala cost approximately $4,675 per deportee. These high costs, however, are seen as an unfortunate but necessary expense for the Trump administration as it works to enforce stricter immigration policies.
For the deportees themselves, the process can be physically gruelling. The C-17 aircraft, which is designed primarily for cargo transport, offers only a single toilet for the 205 passengers onboard unless equipped with additional facilities.