Second batch of deported Indian immigrants from US to arrive in Amritsar on 16 Feb, will they be restrained in handcuffs and shackles?

The second batch of 119 illegal immigrants from the United States is set to arrive in Amritsar, Punjab on Saturday. This batch includes 67 people from Punjab and 33 from Haryana.

The local administration has yet to confirm the exact landing time of the aircraft in Amritsar.

104 Indians were deported on Feb 5 

Earlier, on February 5, a total of 104 Indians were deported to Amritsar aboard a US military C-17 plane, where they were came in handcuffs and shackles. Details regarding the conditions of this latest group's deportation remain undisclosed, including whether they will also be restrained.

Wrong to land plane in Punjab: Mann

Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed his disapproval, stating, "It is wrong to land a plane carrying illegal immigrants in Punjab. This is a conspiracy to defame Punjab. Those who went to the US illegally are being deported. Previously, deportees were from various states; why are the planes only landing in Amritsar?"

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema echoed these sentiments. He slammed the central government for what he perceives as an attempt to tarnish Punjab's reputation, questioning why the deportation flights do not land in states like Gujarat, Haryana, or Delhi.

The first US military aircraft designated for deporting Indian immigrants departed from San Antonio, Texas, at 3 AM on February 4. This marked a historic use of military aircraft for such purposes.

Over 7 lakh illegal Indian immigrants in USA 

According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2023, there are over 7 lakh illegal Indian immigrants in the United States, the highest numbers following Mexico and El Salvador. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports that an average of 90,000 Indian citizens have been apprehended for illegal entry attempts over the past three years, with a significant portion hailing from Punjab, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.