On Wednesday afternoon, the tranquil atmosphere of Amritsar’s airport gave way to a scene filled with emotions as a U.S. military C-17 Globemaster aircraft touched down. The plane carried 104 Indian nationals, all of whom had been deported from the United States. Their return marked the end of an arduous and often perilous journey in pursuit of what they had hoped would be the “American dream.”
The deportees, who had gambled their life savings to seek better opportunities abroad, were apprehended while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Their dreams of a brighter future turned into a grim reality as they were detained, processed, and eventually flown back to India.
For many of these individuals, the pursuit of the American dream came at a steep financial and emotional cost. A deported family from Gujarat revealed that they had spent Rs 1 crore—selling off assets and taking on debt—to finance their journey to the United States. Another family from Punjab disclosed that they had sold one-and-a-half acres of land and spent over Rs 42 lakh to send their relatives abroad. For these families, the return of their loved ones brought disappointment and significant financial losses.
The Indian government has confirmed the deportation of these individuals and has not ruled out the possibility of more deportations shortly. According to a report in the Times of India, the government has stated that it will continue to accept deportees whose identities and records have been verified. This policy aligns with protocols followed during both the Biden and Trump administrations in the United States.
Most of the deportees had been detained approximately 10 days ago at the U.S.-Mexico border. Some had taken a circuitous route to reach the U.S., with reports indicating that a few had traveled through the United Kingdom before attempting to enter the United States illegally. Their journeys underscore the lengths to which people are willing to go in search of a better life, even at great personal risk.
Special arrangements were made at the Amritsar airport to process the deportees efficiently. Dedicated counters were set up to handle their documentation, and buses and police vehicles were dispatched to transport them to their respective hometowns. Officials confirmed that individuals from Punjab and Haryana were sent back via road, while those hailing from Gujarat and other states were scheduled to be flown to their destinations later that same day.
The deportation has prompted Indian authorities to launch an investigation into the illegal immigration networks that facilitated these journeys. Police are working to identify the agents and middlemen responsible for arranging the complex and costly routes to the United States. Charanjit Singh, a retired police officer from Amritsar, expressed his dismay as he came to receive his grandson, Ajaydeep Singh, who had been living in a U.S. detention camp before being deported.
Preliminary investigations suggest that these agents often exploit the desperation of individuals and families eager to escape economic hardships, promising them a new life in the U.S. in exchange for exorbitant fees. The amounts of money involved in these operations are staggering, often forcing families to sell their land or take on substantial loans.
At the airport, the mood was a mix of relief and sorrow. While some families eagerly awaited the return of their loved ones, others chose to keep the deportation under wraps, fearing stigma or judgment from their communities. Officials noted that many families were hesitant to share details of the situation, reflecting the complex emotions surrounding the event.
Despite the disappointment, some families expressed relief that their relatives had returned home safely, considering the dangerous conditions they had endured during their journeys and detentions.
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