US plane carrying 205 deported Indians to land in Amritsar Wednesday afternoon

After Trump assumed office as the US President last month, the country's law enforcement agencies have launched a crackdown against illegal immigrants.

A US military aircraft, reportedly a C-17, carrying 205 illegal Indian immigrants - mostly from Punjab and neighboring states - is expected to land at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar on Wednesday afternoon. The flight was initially scheduled for a morning arrival, but no specific details about the passengers have been disclosed so far.

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that the state government is prepared to receive the deportees, with counters set up at the airport for processing.

Expressing his disappointment, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal criticized the US government's decision, stating that these individuals had contributed to the US economy and should have been granted permanent residency instead of being deported. Dhaliwal pointed out that many of the immigrants had initially entered the US on work permits, which later expired, leading to their undocumented status.

Dhaliwal announced his intention to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar next week to discuss the concerns of Punjabis living in the US. He also appealed to Punjabis to avoid illegal migration routes, such as the "donkey route," urging them instead to pursue legal avenues through education and skill development for opportunities abroad.

This deportation follows a crackdown on illegal immigrants by US law enforcement agencies since Donald Trump assumed office as President last month. Many from Punjab who spent large sums to enter the US through illegal channels are now facing deportation.