104 Indian Nationals Arrive Home on US Military Aircraft Due to 'Illegal Alien Deportation' by Trump

Deported on a US Military Aircraft for the First Time

Over 100 Indians deported from the United States under the Trump administration's illegal immigrant deportation policy have arrived in their home country.

Yonhap News reported on the 6th that "Indian media and the AP reported that a US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants arrived at Amritsar Airport in Punjab, northern India, on the afternoon of the 5th (local time)."

A US military aircraft carrying illegal Indian immigrants landing at Amritsar Airport, India. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Comprising 72 men, 19 women, and 13 children, these individuals are known to have stayed illegally in the US for periods ranging from several years to a few weeks. Their repatriation took place ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington DC next week.

An Indian government official stated that there could be additional deportations of Indian illegal immigrants by the US. Previously, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi discussed the issue of illegal Indian immigrants in the US during a phone call last week.

At that time, President Trump emphasized that India should purchase more US-made security equipment and engage in fair bilateral trade. In response, India stated that it would accept its illegal immigrants after identity verification. India also took preemptive conciliatory gestures, such as agreeing to lower tariffs in preparation for possible US tariff impositions.

Illegal Indian immigrants in the US are reported to be the third largest group after those from Mexico and El Salvador. An Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs official recently testified before Congress that "519 illegal Indian immigrants were deported from the US to India between November 2023 and October of the following year."

Donald Trump. EPA=Yonhap News

Sources from the Indian government said this is the first time the US has used military aircraft to deport illegal Indian immigrants. Previously, it was known that chartered planes were used.