US Deports 104 Indians Using Military Plane, Raises Concerns Ahead of PM Modi’s US Visit

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th Feb. Over 100 Indians living illegally in the United States were deported and sent back aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, a US military aircraft, which landed in Amritsar on Tuesday. This unprecedented deportation method has sparked concerns regarding the treatment of Indian citizens.

Addressing a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri acknowledged the unusual nature of the deportation. “This particular deportation is somewhat different compared to earlier flights. In the US system itself, it was described as a national security operation, so maybe that’s why they used a military plane,” he said.

According to the Indian government, US authorities have indicated that 487 presumed Indian citizens have received “final removal orders.” Tuesday’s flight carried 104 Indians, who were reportedly handcuffed and shackled for the nearly 24-hour journey. US Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks shared a video on X, stating that the mission was the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport. The video also carried a warning: “If you cross illegally, you will be removed.”

US Immigration Crackdown and Global Deportation Trends

Since former President Donald Trump took office, the US has intensified efforts to deport illegal migrants. Previous US military deportation flights have sent migrants back to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras.

The deportation comes just a week ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the US on February 12-13, marking his first meeting with President Trump since his recent inauguration.

India’s Response to Deportation Practices

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking in Parliament, stated that US deportations of illegal migrants are not new and have been ongoing for years. He cited data showing that Indian deportations ranged from 530 in 2012 to over 2,000 in 2019. “It is in our collective interest to encourage legal mobility and discourage illegal movement. All countries have an obligation to take back their nationals if they are found to be living illegally abroad,” he said.

Jaishankar also emphasized that the Indian government is engaging with US authorities to ensure deportees are not mistreated. He clarified that women and children were not restrained and that food, medical assistance, and other necessities were provided during deportation.

High Cost of Deportation

Many of the deported Indians had taken the hazardous ‘Donkey’ route to enter the US, only to be sent back after spending vast amounts of money.

Deporting individuals via a C-17 military aircraft comes at a steep cost. A recent flight to Guatemala reportedly cost $4,675 per migrant—five times the average cost of a first-class commercial ticket. According to reports, the cost of deporting 64 migrants on a C-17 was estimated at $28,500 per hour, making the 10.5-hour journey to Guatemala highly expensive.

Applying similar calculations to the 19-hour journey from San Antonio, Texas, to Amritsar, experts estimate that the US government spent over half a million dollars (approximately Rs 4 crore) on this single deportation mission.