A US military C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying 104 Indians deported from the US landed at Amritsar Airport in Punjab on February 5.
The feet of these people were shackled, while their hands were also shackled. US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks shared the video on his X handle. In this video, the shackles on the hands and feet of the Indians can be clearly seen.
Michael Banks wrote on X,
US Border Patrol USBP successfully deported illegal immigrants to Indians. This was the longest deportation flight ever conducted using a military aircraft. This mission demonstrates our commitment to expel illegal immigrants. If you cross the border illegally, you will be deported.
At the San Antonio airport in Texas, American military officials put them on a military plane in this condition. From there, they traveled 40 hours in chains to Indians.
Some people told the media that they were told to sit in one place on the plane. They were not even allowed to go to the washroom. When the people insisted, the plane crew took them to the washroom, opened the door and pushed them inside.
30 people from Punjab, 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat
The plane carried 30 people from Punjab, 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat. 11 crew members and 45 American officials also came along.
According to security officials at Amritsar airport, these people were screened. After getting clearance from immigration and customs from here, they were handed over to Punjab Police. The people deported from Punjab were sent to their homes in police vehicles.
Of these 104 illegal immigrants, 48 are under 25 years of age. 13 are minors, including a 4-year-old child. Some of those who reached Amritsar were taken to their villages in police vehicles. People from the rest of the state were sent by flight. All of them will never be able to go to 20 countries, including the US.
America sent a military aircraft for the first time
This US military plane left for San Antonio, USA at 3 am on February 4, Indian time. This is the first time that America has used a military plane to send immigrants. After about three and a half hours, the US Air Force plane returned.
Earlier, various reports claimed that the US has identified a total of 205 illegal Indians for deportation. These will be sent to India. A list of 186 Indians to be deported was also released. It is not yet clear where the rest are and when they will be deported.
After taking office as US President, Trump ordered the deportation of illegal immigrants. It cost around Rs 6 crore to send the Globemaster to India.
Why is Trump deporting illegal immigrants ?
Shortly after taking the oath of office on January 20, Trump signed an executive order announcing a policy of barring the entry of illegal immigrants and detaining them at the border. Trump had also promised to expel illegal immigrants from the country during his election campaign.
He called for the largest deportation in US history. Trump believes that people from other countries enter America illegally and commit crimes. A large portion of jobs here are taken by immigrants, which hinders Americans from getting jobs.
Trump signed the Lacon Riley Act into law on the first day of his second term. Under this law, federal authorities have the power to detain and deport illegal immigrants involved in any criminal activity.
PM Modi to visit US on February 12
According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 19,000 illegal Indian immigrants will be deported. Trump has taken this step at a time when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to leave for a two-day visit to the US on February 12. The PM’s meeting with Trump is scheduled for February 13.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal went to Amritsar airport and met the people deported from Punjab. After which he said- PM Narendra Modi says that US President Donald Trump is his friend. He also went to campaign for him. He should meet Trump and find a solution to this.
Can never travel to 20 countries including America
Biometric scans of all of them have been taken. Even if they try to go to America with valid documents in the future, they will not get a visa. They will not be able to go to 20 other countries including Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Britain, because about 20 countries follow the US visa policy.