Women and Children on 2nd US Deportation Flight 'Not Restrained'

New Delhi/Amritsar, Feb 17 (NationPress) Women and children aboard the second deportation flight from the US that arrived in Punjab's Amritsar were not restrained during the flight, sources reported on Sunday. This statement comes amid significant uproar regarding allegations of ill-treatment faced by the first group of deportees from the US.

The C-17 aircraft, which transported over 115 undocumented Indian immigrants including women and children, arrived at Amritsar airport late Saturday night, with male deportees claiming they were shackled during their journey.

This marks the second group of Indians to be repatriated by the Donald Trump administration as part of its initiative against illegal immigration.

According to sources, on the deportation flight that landed in Amritsar on Saturday, women and children were not restrained during their journey.

The deportees are from various regions including Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, with additional individuals from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The second batch of illegal immigrants from the US, consisting of 67 Punjabis, arrived at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar on Saturday night via a special flight, officials confirmed.

A previous US military aircraft had brought 104 deportees to Amritsar on February 5.

In addition to the 67 immigrants from Punjab, Saturday’s flight included 33 individuals from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

This was the second group of Indians deported under the Trump administration's stringent policies.

The deportation of these individuals is part of a broader crackdown by US immigration authorities on those who have either entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas.

Sources indicate that deportations will proceed on a bi-weekly schedule, with similar flights expected to return Indian nationals in the upcoming weeks, until all undocumented individuals are repatriated.

The Indian government is actively engaging through diplomatic channels to facilitate the return of its nationals impacted by such deportations.

Although this process has caused significant distress for many families, authorities stress that the deportations are part of an ongoing effort to tackle illegal immigration, and those wishing to return home will be assisted.

In light of this crackdown, both the US and India are working to address immigration issues while ensuring compliance with their respective laws.

During a recent meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of combating the “ecosystem” that entices individuals from ordinary families with lofty dreams and promises, leading them to migrate illegally.

“We believe that anyone who enters and resides in another country illegally has no legal right or authority to remain there,” PM Modi stated at a joint press conference with Trump at the White House.

Opposing the decision to land the next deportation flight at Amritsar airport, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann described it as a “conspiracy by the Union government to defame Punjab and its people.”

Addressing the media, the Chief Minister asserted that despite Punjab’s status as the food bowl and sword arm of India, the decision to land the plane carrying deported Indians from the US is merely an attempt by the Government of India to damage Punjab’s image globally.

Mann questioned the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) choice of Amritsar for this landing, suggesting that there are numerous other airports available across the country.