High Number of Deported Indians from US are from Punjab

Government Reveals Deportation Statistics in Lok Sabha

The Indian government has shared that almost half of the Indians deported from the US in five commercial flights from Panama between February 20 and March 2 were from Punjab. Union junior minister for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh provided this information in a written response to a query from SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Deportation Statistics

• 55 illegal immigrants were deported in five commercial flights
• 27 of them (49%) belonged to Punjab
• 22 (40%) were from Haryana
• 3 (5%) were from Uttar Pradesh
• 2 (4%) were from Gujarat
• 1 (2%) was from Rajasthan

Since Donald Trump became US President, a total of 388 illegal immigrants from India have been deported, including 333 in military aircraft. Out of these, 153 (40%) were from Punjab.

Fluctuating Numbers of Punjabi Deportees

• The February 20 flight had no deportees from Punjab
• The February 23 flight carried 4 deportees from Punjab
• The February 27 flight brought back 8 deportees from Punjab
• The February 28 flight had 6 deportees from Punjab
• The March 2 flight carried 9 deportees from Punjab

Earlier, 333 illegal immigrants were deported from the US in three military planes on February 5, 15, and 16. Out of these, 126 (38%) were from Punjab, 110 (33%) from Haryana, and the rest from other states.

Landing Sites and Treatment of Deportees

The minister clarified that landing sites for repatriation flights are chosen based on operational convenience, airspace routes, and proximity to the final destinations of deportees. He also said that the government has raised concerns with US authorities regarding the treatment of deportees, particularly the use of restraints. While US procedures allow for restraints, assurances were given that no women or children were shackled on flights landing on February 15 and 16. This has been confirmed and recorded by Indian agencies after interviewing the deportees on their arrival in India.

Questions Raised by MPs

MPs Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Selvaganapathy TM had posed questions regarding landing permissions for US military planes, the selection of Amritsar as a landing site, equitable media coverage, the distribution of deportees across states, and the treatment of deportees.